Home › A › Albert (PRINCE CONSORT was born)

Albert (PRINCE CONSORT was born)

PRINCE CONSORT, was born at Schloss Rosenau, near Coburg, Aug. 26, 1819, the younger son of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, by his first marriage with Louisa, daughter of the Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. After a careful domestic education, the prince, along with his elder brother, studied at Brussels and Bonn (1836-1838). This prince the young Queen of Great Britain selected as her partner for life. They met first in 1836, and the marriage was celebrated in London on Feb. 10, 1840, when Prince Albert received the title of Royal Highness, was naturalized as a subject of Great Britain, and obtained the rank of field-marshal. The title of Consort of Her Most Gracious Majesty was formally conferred in 1842, and that of Prince Consort in 1857. Notwithstanding his high and favored position, he abstained from undue meddling with state affairs, and thus escaped the jealousy and detraction of parties. He devoted himself to the encouragement and promotion of science and art, appearing as the patron of many useful associations and public undertakings. The Exhibition of 1851 owed much to his strong interest. As regards Continental politics, his ruling idea was that Prussia should be supreme in Germany. He died of typhoid fever at Windsor Castle, Dec. 14, 1861.