Duke George Augustus of Mecklenburg
Encyclopedia
Duke George Augustus of Mecklenburg (16 August 1748 – 14 November 1785) was a member of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and a German sailor and soldier.
the youngest child of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg, Prince of Mirow and his wife Princess Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen
. His grandfather Adolf Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
was the founder of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
On 8 September 1761 his sister Charlotte
married the King of Great Britain, George III
. Following the marriage George Augustus moved to the Kingdom of Great Britain
and after learning the English language volunteered to serve in the Royal Navy
. He spent two years serving in the Navy before he was forced to leave due to illness brought on by the climate and life at sea. During his time in Great Britain George Augustus became a Doctor of Laws.
George Augustus developed a love of Britain and though a firm protestant himself, he disapproved of the countries discrimination and intolerance of catholics.
. He accepted the offer and was made a Lieutenant-Colonel. He was promoted to rank of Colonel
after a fellow officer complained to Empress Maria Theresa that Duke George Augustus associated with socially inferior officers and that he had forgot that he was a German prince. The Empress who was only concerned if George Augustus had forgotten that he was Lieutenant-Colonel in her service, responded by promoting him to the rank of Colonel after the complaining officer admitted he was a good officer as she was only interested that he did his duty as an officer in her service.
He continued his rise up the ranks and a short while after being made a colonel he was made general of horse and was decorated with various honours. In 1780 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General and was appointed inspector of two carabinier
regiments. He won the praise of Austrian Field Marshal Baron Ernst Gideon von Laudon in 1782 after carrying out Army manoeuvres in Prague
with 50,000 infantry and cavalry soldiers.
Duke George Augustus never married and died in Tyrnau
in the Kingdom of Hungary
at the age of 37.
Early life
Duke George Augustus was born in MirowMirow
Mirow is a city in the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte in southern Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany.-Geography:Mirow lies in the middle of the Mecklenburg Lake District on the southern shore of Lake Mirow, which is connected to the Müritz and the Havel by a system of lakes, rivers,...
the youngest child of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg, Prince of Mirow and his wife Princess Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Princess Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Princess Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen was a Duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She served as regent for her son after the death of her spouse.- Biography :...
. His grandfather Adolf Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Adolf Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Adolf Friedrich II was the first Duke of Mecklenburg reigning from 1701 to his death. His state was part of the Holy Roman Empire.-Biography:...
was the founder of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
On 8 September 1761 his sister Charlotte
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom as the wife of King George III...
married the King of Great Britain, George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
. Following the marriage George Augustus moved to the Kingdom of Great Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
and after learning the English language volunteered to serve in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. He spent two years serving in the Navy before he was forced to leave due to illness brought on by the climate and life at sea. During his time in Great Britain George Augustus became a Doctor of Laws.
George Augustus developed a love of Britain and though a firm protestant himself, he disapproved of the countries discrimination and intolerance of catholics.
Imperial service
After recovering from his illness George Augustus spent some time studying at the University of Leiden before being invited to enter into the service of the Queen-Empress Maria Theresa of AustriaMaria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
. He accepted the offer and was made a Lieutenant-Colonel. He was promoted to rank of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
after a fellow officer complained to Empress Maria Theresa that Duke George Augustus associated with socially inferior officers and that he had forgot that he was a German prince. The Empress who was only concerned if George Augustus had forgotten that he was Lieutenant-Colonel in her service, responded by promoting him to the rank of Colonel after the complaining officer admitted he was a good officer as she was only interested that he did his duty as an officer in her service.
He continued his rise up the ranks and a short while after being made a colonel he was made general of horse and was decorated with various honours. In 1780 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General and was appointed inspector of two carabinier
Carabinier
A Carabinier was originally a cavalry soldier armed with a carbine...
regiments. He won the praise of Austrian Field Marshal Baron Ernst Gideon von Laudon in 1782 after carrying out Army manoeuvres in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
with 50,000 infantry and cavalry soldiers.
Duke George Augustus never married and died in Tyrnau
Trnava
Trnava is a city in western Slovakia, 47 km to the north-east of Bratislava, on the Trnávka river. It is the capital of a kraj and of an okres . It was the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishopric . The city has a historic center...
in the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
at the age of 37.
Titles and styles
- 16 August 1748 14 November 1785: His Serene Highness Duke George Augustus of Mecklenburg, Prince of Mirow