Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn

This article is about the father of Queen Victoria. For the grandson of George V, see Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.
Prince Edward
Duke of Kent and Strathearn
Portrait by Sir William Beechey, 1818 (originally owned by Mme de Saint-Laurent)
Born(1767-11-02)2 November 1767
Buckingham House, London, England
Died23 January 1820(1820-01-23) (aged 52)
Woolbrook Cottage, Sidmouth, England
Burial12 February 1820
Royal Vault, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1818)​
IssueVictoria, Queen of the United Kingdom
Names
Edward Augustus
HouseHanover
FatherGeorge III
MotherCharlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Signature
Governor of Gibraltar
In office
24 May 1802 – 23 January 1820
Preceded byCharles Barnett
Succeeded byThomas Trigge
Grand Master of the Antient Grand Lodge of England
In office
1813–1813
Preceded byJohn Murray
Succeeded byPrince Augustus Frederick
Commander-in-Chief, Maritime Provinces
In office
September 1799 – August 1800
Preceded byJohn Campbell
Succeeded bySir John Sherbrooke
Military career
Allegiance
BranchBritish Army
Years of active service1786–1805
RankField marshal
(active service)
Unit7th Regiment of Foot (Royal Fusiliers)
Commands
Conflicts
AwardsMentioned in dispatches

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (Edward Augustus; 2 November 1767 – 23 January 1820), was the fourth son and fifth child of King George III and Queen Charlotte. His only child, Victoria, became Queen of the United Kingdom 17 years after his death.

Edward lived in Lower Canada and Nova Scotia from 1791 to 1800, where he served as commander-in-chief of British forces in the Maritime Provinces of North America. He was the first British prince to visit the United States following its recognition of its independence in 1783, travelling on foot to Boston from Lower Canada in 1794.

He was created Duke of Kent and Strathearn and Earl of Dublin in 1799, and shortly thereafter appointed a General. In 1802 he became Governor of Gibraltar, a post he nominally held until his death. He was promoted to Field-Marshal of the Forces in 1805.


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