Lady Augusta Murray
Encyclopedia
The Lady Augusta Murray (27 January 1768 – 5 March 1830) was the first wife of Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex
, the sixth son of George III
. As their marriage was in contravention of the Royal Marriages Act 1772
, it was considered legally void, and she could not be styled as the Duchess of Sussex.
. Her father was John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore
and her mother was Lady Charlotte Stewart daughter of the Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway
. She was styled Lady Augusta Murray at birth, the courtesy title of a daughter of an Earl
.
, the sixth son of George III on 4 April 1793 in a Church of England ceremony in Hotel Sarmiento, Rome
, Italy
. They were later remarried again in a religious ceremony on 5 December 1793 in St. George's Church, Hanover Square, London using their correct names but without revealing their full identities. The marriage ceremonies were in contravention of the Royal Marriages Act 1772
and soon annulled. Lady Augusta could not take the style of Princess of Great Britain
or Her Royal Highness.
Together the couple had two children:
Despite the annulment, Prince Augustus continued to live with Lady Augusta until 1801, when he received a parliamentary grant of £12,000. The King created Prince Augustus Duke of Sussex
, Earl of Inverness
, and Baron Arklow
in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
and a Knight of the Garter on 27 November 1801.
, Kent
. After Lady Augusta's death the Duke of Sussex married Lady Cecilia Underwood, and lived at Kensington Palace
.
Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex
The Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex , was the sixth son of George III of the United Kingdom and his consort, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He was the only surviving son of George III who did not pursue an army or naval career.- Early life :His Royal Highness The Prince Augustus...
, the sixth son of 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...
. As their marriage was in contravention of the Royal Marriages Act 1772
Royal Marriages Act 1772
The Royal Marriages Act 1772 is an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which prescribes the conditions under which members of the British Royal Family may contract a valid marriage, in order to guard against marriages that could diminish the status of the Royal House...
, it was considered legally void, and she could not be styled as the Duchess of Sussex.
Early life
Lady Augusta was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Her father was John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore
John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore
John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore was a British peer and colonial governor. He was the son of William Murray, 3rd Earl of Dunmore, and his wife Catherine . He is best remembered as the last royal governor of the Colony of Virginia.John was the eldest son of William and Catherine Murray, and nephew...
and her mother was Lady Charlotte Stewart daughter of the Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway
Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway
Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway was the son of James Stewart, 5th Earl of Galloway by Catherine, daughter of Alexander Montgomerie, 9th Earl of Eglinton ....
. She was styled Lady Augusta Murray at birth, the courtesy title of a daughter of an Earl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
.
Marriage
Lady Augusta secretly married The Prince Augustus FrederickPrince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex
The Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex , was the sixth son of George III of the United Kingdom and his consort, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He was the only surviving son of George III who did not pursue an army or naval career.- Early life :His Royal Highness The Prince Augustus...
, the sixth son of George III on 4 April 1793 in a Church of England ceremony in Hotel Sarmiento, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. They were later remarried again in a religious ceremony on 5 December 1793 in St. George's Church, Hanover Square, London using their correct names but without revealing their full identities. The marriage ceremonies were in contravention of the Royal Marriages Act 1772
Royal Marriages Act 1772
The Royal Marriages Act 1772 is an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which prescribes the conditions under which members of the British Royal Family may contract a valid marriage, in order to guard against marriages that could diminish the status of the Royal House...
and soon annulled. Lady Augusta could not take the style of Princess of Great Britain
British princess
This is a list of British princesses from the accession of King George I in 1714. This article deals with both princesses of the blood royal and women who become princesses upon marriage....
or Her Royal Highness.
Together the couple had two children:
- Augustus Frederick d'EsteAugustus d'EsteSir Augustus Frederick d'Este KCB KCH was the son of Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex and Lady Augusta Murray and the grandson of George III...
(13 January 1794 — 28 December 1848) - Augusta Emma d'Este, later Lady Truro (11 August 1801 – 21 May 1866)
Despite the annulment, Prince Augustus continued to live with Lady Augusta until 1801, when he received a parliamentary grant of £12,000. The King created Prince Augustus Duke of Sussex
Duke of Sussex
Duke of Sussex was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was conferred on 27 November 1801 upon The Prince Augustus Frederick, the sixth son of George III, who was created Duke of Sussex, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Arklow, all in the Peerage of the United Kingdom...
, Earl of Inverness
Earl of Inverness
The title of Earl of Inverness was first created in 1718 in the Jacobite Peerage of Scotland by James Francis Edward Stuart for the Honourable John Hay of Cromlix, third son of the 7th Earl of Kinnoull, but became extinct upon the death of the grantee in 1740.It has been created several times in ...
, and Baron Arklow
Baron Arklow
The title Baron Arklow has been created twice in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Arklow is in Ireland.*in 1801 as a subsidiary title of the Duke of Sussex*in 1881 as a subsidiary title of the Duke of Albany...
in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
and a Knight of the Garter on 27 November 1801.
Later life
After 1801, the couple went their separate ways. In 1806 Lady Augusta was given royal licence to use the surname De Ameland instead of Murray. Lady Augusta retained custody of the children and received a maintenance of £4,000 a year. She died in RamsgateRamsgate
Ramsgate is a seaside town in the district of Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century and is a member of the ancient confederation of Cinque Ports. It has a population of around 40,000. Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline and its main...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. After Lady Augusta's death the Duke of Sussex married Lady Cecilia Underwood, and lived at Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. It has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century and is the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke and...
.