Duke of Cumberland is a peerage title that was conferred upon junior members of the British royal family, named after the historic county of Cumberland.

History

The Earldom of Cumberland, created in 1525, became extinct in 1643. The dukedom was created in the Peerage of England in 1644 for Prince Rupert of the Rhine, nephew of King Charles I. When he died without male heirs, the title was created again in the Peerage of England in 1689 for Prince George of Denmark, husband of Princess Anne, younger daughter of King James II. He also died without heirs, in 1708. Neither of these men, however, was usually known by his peerage title. The third creation, in the Peerage of Great Britain, was for Prince William, the third son of King George II. Other titles granted to Prince William were Marquess of Berkhampstead, Earl of Kennington, Viscount Trematon and Baron Alderney. Since the Prince died unmarried and without children, his titles became extinct at his death. The titles Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn and Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale were later created in the Peerage of Great Britain.

List of titleholders

Dukes of Cumberland, first creation (1644)

House of Wittelsbach 1644–1682 also: Earl of Holderness (1644) Prague son of Frederick V, Elector Palatine and Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia Westminster aged 62

Dukes of Cumberland, second creation (1689)

House of Oldenburg 1689–1708 also: Earl of Kendal and Baron Wokingham (1689) Copenhagen Castle son of Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg 28 July 1683 5 children Kensington Palace aged 55

Dukes of Cumberland, third creation (1726)

''' also Marquess of Berkhamsted, Earl of Kennington, Viscount Trematon and Baron Alderney (Great Britain, 1726) Leicester House, London son of George II of Great Britain and Caroline of Ansbach London aged 44

Dukes of Cumberland and Strathearn (1766)

The sole title-holder was Prince Henry (1745–1790), third son of Frederick, Prince of Wales. He died without legitimate issue, when the dukedom again became extinct.

Dukes of Cumberland and Teviotdale (1799)

This double dukedom, in the Peerage of Great Britain, was bestowed on Prince Ernest Augustus (1771–1851) (later King of Hanover), the fifth son and eighth child of King George III of the United Kingdom and King of Hanover. In 1919, it was suspended under the Titles Deprivation Act 1917 and,, has not been restored to its titular heir.

Family trees

Contract bridge

An historic fixed bridge hand is known as the Duke of Cumberland hand. The hand also appeared in Ian Fleming's James Bond thriller, Moonraker.