Duke of Cambridge - Definition and Overview

Duke of Cambridge is a title frequently conferred upon junior members of the British royal family. It was first used as a designation for the eldest son of James, Duke of York (later James II) James Stewart (1660-1661), who was never actually formally created Duke of Cambridge.

The first "actual" creation was in the Peerage of England in 1664, when James Stuart, son of the Duke of York by his first wife, was granted the title. James, Duke of Cambridge died young and without heirs, and the title became extinct. The title was then again granted to Edgar Stuart, another son of the Duke of York, again by his first wife. Edgar, too, died young, and the title again became extinct.

The Duke of York's eldest son (by his second wife), Charles Stuart, (1677-1677), was also styled Duke of Cambridge, but, having died approximately a month old, did not live long enough to be formally created.

The Dukedom was next granted to George Augustus, son of Georg Ludwig, Hereditary Prince of Hanover and Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, who would later become George I of Great Britain. When George Augustus ascended to the throne as George II, the dukedom merged into the crown.

The title was next given, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, to Prince Adolphus, the seventh son of George III. Upon the death of his only son without a legitimate heir, the title became extinct.

The first Duke's grandson (through a female line), Adolphus, Duke of Teck, who was the brother of Queen Mary, George V's consort, was created Marquess of Cambridge in 1917 when he gave up his German titles and took the surname "Cambridge". Upon the death of the second Marquess without any male heirs, the Marquessate became extinct.

Dukes of Cambridge, first Creation (1664)

• James Stuart, Duke of Cambridge (1663-1667)

Dukes of Cambridge, second Creation (1667)

• Edgar Stuart, Duke of Cambridge (1667-1671)

Dukes of Cambridge, third Creation (1706)

• George Augustus, Duke of Cambridge (1683-1760) (became King in 1727)

Dukes of Cambridge, fourth Creation (1801)

1. Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (1774-1850)
2. Prince George, Duke of Cambridge (1819-1904)

Marquesses of Cambridge (1917)

• Adolphus Charles Alexander Albert Edward George Philip Louis Ladislaus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge (1868-1927)
• George Francis Hugh Cambridge, 2nd Marquess of Cambridge (1895-1981)