Augusta of Saxe-Gotha

Augusta was the daughter of Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha, and arrived in Britain, aged only seventeen and speaking virtually no English, for a wedding ceremony which took place almost immediately, on May 8, 1736, at the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace, London. Despite a twelve-year age difference, the marriage seems to have been a happy one. They had nine children, the last born after Frederick's death. The birth of their first daughter, Augusta, on August 31, 1737, took place at St James's after Augusta was forced by Frederick to travel from Hampton Court Palace while in labour, simply to prevent his hated mother, Caroline of Ansbach, and father, King George II, from being present at the birth.

Throughout their marriage, Augusta went along with her husband's wishes in the feud with his parents. Following his death, her role as mother of the heir to the throne became a more important one, and she was named prospective regent, which caused a political controversy. Shortly afterwards, she began to be influenced by John Stuart, Earl of Bute, her son's tutor, and rumours spread that they were having an affair. Both were pilloried in the press. Even after George III's accession, Augusta suffered widespread hostility from the public. When she died, of cancer, at the age of fifty-two, her funeral procession attracted troublemakers who followed the coffin to the grave shouting insults.

Her nine children were:

• Augusta - (August 31, 1737 - March 31, 1813).
• King George III of the United Kingdom - (June 4, 1738 - January 29, 1820).
• Edward Augustus, Duke of York - (March 25, 1739 - September 17, 1767).
• Elizabeth Caroline - (December 30, 1740 - September 4, 1759).
• William Henry, Duke of Gloucester - November 14, 1743 - August 25, 1805).
• Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland - (November 27, 1745 - September 18, 1790).
• Louisa Anne - (March 8, 1749 - May 13, 1750).
• Frederick William - (May 13, 1750 - December 29, 1765).
• Caroline Matilda of Wales, later Queen consort of Denmark and Norway - (July 11, 1751 - May 10, 1775).

The city of Augusta, Georgia was named in her honor.

Links:

• A short profile of Augusta alongside other influential women of her time:http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/womeninpower/Womeninpower1740.htm

Referenced By