Prince William, Duke of Cumberland

Prince William
Sir Joshua Reynolds, c. 1759
Born	(1721-04-15)15 April 1721 (New Style) Leicester House, London, England
Died	31 October 1765(1765-10-31) (aged 44) Mayfair, London, England
Burial	10 November 1765 Westminster Abbey, London
Names William Augustus
House	Hanover
Father	George II of Great Britain
Mother	Caroline of Ansbach
Signature
Military career
Nickname(s)	The Butcher Sweet William Martial boy
Allegiance	Great Britain (1740–1757) Hanover (1757)
Service/branch	Royal Navy  British Army
Years of service	1740–1757
Rank	General
Unit	Grenadier Guards
Commands held	Pragmatic Army Government Army Hanoverian Army of Observation Commander-in-Chief of the Forces
Battles/wars	War of the Austrian Succession Battle of Dettingen Battle of Fontenoy Battle of Lauffeld Jacobite rising of 1745 Clifton Moor Skirmish Siege of Carlisle Siege of Stirling Castle Battle of Culloden Raids on Lochaber and Shiramore Seven Years' War Battle of Hastenbeck

Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (15 April 1721 [N.S.] – 31 October 1765) was the third and youngest son of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland and his wife, Caroline of Ansbach. He was Duke of Cumberland from 1726. He is best remembered for his role in putting down the Jacobite Rising at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, which made him immensely popular throughout parts of Britain.^[1][2] He is often referred to by the nickname given to him by his Tory opponents: 'Butcher' Cumberland.^[3][4]

For much of the

William was born in

William's elder brother Frederick, Prince of Wales, proposed dividing the king's dominions. Frederick would get Britain, while William would get Hanover. This proposal came to nothing.^[12]

Early military career

From childhood, he showed physical courage and ability, and became his parents' favourite.

In 1745, Cumberland was given the honorary title of

As it became clear that the French intention was to

As the leading British general of the day, he was chosen to put a decisive stop to

Recalled from Flanders, Cumberland proceeded with preparations for quelling the Stuart (Jacobite) uprising. The Jacobite army had advanced southwards into England, hoping that English Jacobites would rise and join them. However, after receiving only limited support, such as the Manchester Regiment, the followers of Charles decided to withdraw to Scotland.^[25]

Cumberland joined the Midland army under

Arriving in Edinburgh on 30 January 1746, Cumberland assumed command of his forces and marched them to Aberdeen. There, he ordered them to undergo training for approximately two months in preparation for engaging the Jacobite Army.^[29][26] On 8 April, he set out from Aberdeen with his troops for Inverness; eight days later on 16 April, he engaged the main Jacobite army near the village of Culloden. In the ensuing battle, his army decisively defeated the Jacobites. The battle lasted only an hour, with the Jacobites suffering between 1,500 and 2,000 casualties, while approximately 300 government soldiers were killed or wounded.^[26][25]

On the morning after the battle, Cumberland issued a written order reminding his men that "the public orders of the rebels yesterday was to give us no quarter" and ordering his men to treat Jacobite wounded in the same manner.^[30] Cumberland alluded to the belief that such orders had been found upon the bodies of fallen Jacobites. However, for the two days after the battle, Cumberland's order was not followed upon; though in the following two days, government troops scoured the battlefield and put to death many wounded Jacobite soldiers they came across.^[31]

Government forces subsequently embarked upon the pacification of Jacobite regions in the Scottish Highlands, which took several months. They carried out searches for rebels across the Highlands, confiscating property, destroying

Following Culloden, Cumberland was nicknamed "Sweet William" by his Whig supporters and "The Butcher" by his Tory opponents^[34] the latter being a taunt first recorded in the City of London^[35] and used for political purposes in England. Cumberland's own brother, the Prince of Wales (who had been refused permission to take a military role on his father's behalf), seems to have encouraged the virulent attacks upon the Duke. Cumberland preserved the strictest discipline in his camp. He was inflexible in the execution of what he deemed to be his duty, without favour to any man. In only a few cases he exercised his influence in favour of clemency.^{[26][nb 1]} The Duke's victorious efforts were acknowledged by his being voted an income of £25,000 per annum over and above his money from the civil list.^[3] A thanksgiving service was held at St Paul's Cathedral, that included the first performance of Handel's oratorio Judas Maccabaeus, composed especially for Cumberland, which contains the anthem "See the Conquering Hero Comes".^[36]

Return to the Continent

The Duke took no part in the Flanders campaign of 1746, during which the French made huge advances

Cumberland's unpopularity, which had steadily increased since Culloden, interfered greatly with his success in politics, and when the death of the Prince of Wales brought the latter's son, a minor, next in succession to the throne, the Duke was not able to secure for himself the contingent regency.^[26] As a compromise, the regency was vested in the Dowager Princess of Wales, who considered him an enemy, but her powers were curtailed and she was to be advised by a committee of twelve men, headed by Cumberland.^[39]

Attempts at army reform

Whilst in the office of Commander-in-Chief, Cumberland attempted to reform the peacetime army with the support of his father. He wished to wrest control over promotions from the government to the army itself and to limit or curtail the practise of purchase. Cumberland further wished to create a special standing force which could be quickly deployed overseas in time of crisis.^[40] The Whigs, who only tolerated the army's existence in peacetime and only had confidence in their control over the militia, saw the expansion and further professionalisation of the army as absolutist. Critics such as Horace Walpole argued the institution of purchase was one of the safeguards of parliamentary sovereignty against Royalist insurrection.^[40] Cumberland's opponent in government Charles Townshend wished to instead further reduce the peacetime army and reform the militia by creating a volunteer force for home defence, a precursor to the volunteers of the 19th century which would be under the direct control of civil authorities.^[40]

Seven Years' War

North America

In 1754, the simmering colonial rivalry between Britain and France over competing territorial claims in North America developed into war. France asserted its claim to the

Cumberland proposed that only overwhelming force would defeat France in America, which was contradictory to Newcastle's own proposals and previous government strategies which advocated limited offensive operations.[43]^[42] Further, Cumberland proposed a role of commander-in-chief for forces in America, who would have the power to levy local troops and direct local strategy.^[41] A 3,500 strong mixed force of regulars, militia, and allied natives would be assembled. It would then cross the Virginia mountains and strike Duquesne. Two regiments drawn from Ireland were given this task.^[44] An officer who had impressed Cumberland on previous campaigns, Edward Braddock, was given command of all crown forces in America, to the surprise of many in the army as Braddock was relatively unknown.^[42]

Newcastle approved the bolder plan, which met with limited success. In his role as army Commander-in-Chief, Cumberland advised on the conduct of the war in North America. He believed the war should be principally conducted by the colonies themselves and that regular troops should only play a supporting role.^[42] He was influential in the appointment of Loudoun, another favorite and an officer who had served in Cumberland's army during the Jacobite rebellion.^[45] Cumberland advised Loudoun to expose his officers and soldiers to scouting expeditions, so that they might "learn to beat the woods".^[46] Cumberland approved the plan to develop light infantry in the British Army.^[42]

Invasion of Hanover

In 1757, the

On Cumberland's return to London, he was treated badly by his father, despite the fact that he had previously been given permission to negotiate such an agreement. When they met, George II remarked "Here is my son who has ruined me and disgraced himself".[51] In response, Cumberland resigned all the military and public offices he held and retired into private life.^[52]

Final years

Cumberland's final years were lived out during the first five years of the reign of his nephew,

Titles and styles

• 26 April 1721 – 27 July 1726: His Highness Prince William^[8]
• 27 July 1726 – 31 October 1765: His Highness The Duke of Cumberland^[8]

The Duke's full style as proclaimed at his funeral by Garter King-of-Arms was: "the [...] most High, most Mighty, and most Illustrious Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, and Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburgh, Marquess of Berkhamstead, Earl of Kennington, Viscount Trematon, Baron of the Isle of Alderney, Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter, and First and Principal Companion of the most Honourable Order of the Bath, third Son of His late most Excellent Majesty King George the Second".^[55]

Honours

British Honours

• KG: Knight of the Garter, 1730^[3]
• KB: Knight of the Bath, 1725^[14]
• PC:
  Privy Counsellor, 1742^[56]

• 1751–1765: Chancellor of the University of Dublin^[57]
• Chancellor of King's College, Aberdeen^[58]

Arms

On 20 July 1725, as a grandchild of the sovereign, William was granted use of the arms of the realm, differenced by a label argent of five points, the centre point bearing a cross gules, the first, second, fourth and fifth each bearing a canton gules. On 30 August 1727, as a child of the sovereign, William's difference changed to a label argent of three points, the centre point bearing a cross gules.^[59]

• 
  Shield of arms 1725–1727
• 
  Coat of arms 1727–1765

Legacy

A memorial obelisk was erected to the Duke's military services in Windsor Great Park. It is inscribed "THIS OBELISK RAISED BY COMMAND OF KING GEORGE THE SECOND COMMEMORATES THE SERVICES OF HIS SON WILLIAM DUKE OF CUMBERLAND THE SUCCESS OF HIS ARMS AND THE GRATITUDE OF HIS FATHER THIS TABLET WAS INSCRIBED BY HIS MAJESTY KING WILLIAM THE FOURTH". According to a local park guide and Scottish historian Murray Pittock, the obelisk was originally inscribed "Culloden" but Queen Victoria had "Culloden" removed.^[70][71]

An equestrian statue of the Duke was erected in London's Cavendish Square in 1770, but was removed in 1868 since by that time the 'butcher of Culloden' was generally reviled. The original plinth remained.^[71][72]

In 2019, plans by developers to name a street close to the battlefield after the Duke were rejected by The Highland Council.^[71]

Notes

References

Sources

• Anderson, Fred (2000). Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754–1766. Faber and Faber.
  ISBN 978-0-571-20535-6
  .
• Blomfield, David (1994). Kew Past. Phillimore & Co. Ltd.
  ISBN 0-85033-923-5
  .
• Browning, Reed (1995). The War of the Austrian Succession. Palgrave MacMillan.
  ISBN 978-0-312-12561-5
  .
• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911b). "Cumberland, William Augustus, Duke of" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 624.
• Clee, Nicholas (2011). Eclipse. Black Swan.
  ISBN 978-0-552-77442-0
  .
• Glover, Richard (2008). Peninsular Preparation: The Reform of the British Army 1795–1809. Cambridge University Press.
  ISBN 978-0-521-08392-8
  .
• Longmate, Norman (2001). Island Fortress: The Defence of Great Britain, 1603–1945. Pimlico.
  ISBN 978-0-09-174837-1
  .
• Plank, Geoffrey (2003). An Unsettled Conquest: The British Campaign Against the Peoples of Acadia. University of Pennsylvania Press.
  ISBN 978-0-8122-1869-5
  .
• Pollard, Tony (2009). Culloden: The History and Archaeology of the last Clan Battle. Pen & Sword Military.
  ISBN 978-1-84884-020-1
  .
• Rolt, Richard (1767). Historical memoirs of His late Royal Highness William-Augustus, Duke of Cumberland.
• Sosin, Jack (1957). Louisburg and the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748. The William and Mary Quarterly, Third Series, Vol. 14, No. 4.
• Speck, William (1995). The Butcher: The Duke of Cumberland and the Suppression of the 45. Welsh Academic Press.
  ISBN 978-1-86057-000-1
  .
• Speck, W.A. (2004). "Prince William, Duke of Cumberland".
  doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29455. (Subscription or UK public library membership
  required.)
• Stanhope, Phillip (2002). History of England from the Peace of Utrecht to the Peace of Versailles: 1713–1783: Volume 4: 1748–1763. Adamant Media Corporation.
  ISBN 978-0-543-67669-6
  .
• Stanley, Arthur (2008). Historical memorials of Westminster Abbey. BiblioBazaar.
  ISBN 978-0-559-69153-9
  .
• Tomasson, Katherine (1974). Battles of the '45. Pan Books.
• Thompson, Arthur (1865). The Victoria history of England: from the landing of Julius Caesar, B.C. 54 to the marriage of H.R.H. Albert Edward Prince of Wales A.D. 1863. Routledge, Warne and Routledge.
• Thurley, Simon (2003). Hampton Court: A Social and Architectural History. Yale University Press.
  ISBN 978-0-300-10223-9
  .
• Van der Kiste, John (1997). George II and Queen Caroline. Sutton Publishing.
  ISBN 0-7509-1321-5
  .
• Royle, Trevor (2008). Culloden: Scotland's Last Battle and the Forging of the British Empire. Little, Brown.
  ISBN 978-1-408-70401-1
  .
• Davies, John (1938). A King in Toils. L. Drummond.
• Axelrod, Alan (2008). Blooding at Great Meadows: Young George Washington and the Battle That Shaped the Man. Running Press Book Press.
• Hall, Richard (2016). Atlantic Politics, Military Strategy and the French and Indian War. Palgrave Macmillan.
  ISBN 978-3-319-30664-3
  .
• Cusick, Ray (2013). Wellington's Rifles: The Origins, Development and Battles of the Rifle Regiments in the Peninsular War and at Waterloo. Pen & Sword Military.
  ISBN 978-1-781-59287-8
  .
• Gallay, Alan (2015). Colonial Wars of North America, 1512–1763 (Routledge Revivals): An Encyclopedia. Pen & Sword Military.
  ISBN 978-1-138-89108-1
  .
• Waldman, Carl (1989). Atlas of the North American Indian. Facts on File Inc.
  ISBN 978-0-816-02136-9
  .
• Tucker, Spencer (1989). The Encyclopedia of North American Indian Wars, 1607-1890 3 Volume Set: A Political, Social, and Military History. ABC-CLIO.
  ISBN 978-1-851-09697-8
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• Dilisio, Rock (2008). American Advance: Westward From The French & Indian War. iUniverse.
  ISBN 978-0-595-52486-0
  .
• Grenier, John (2008). The First Way of War: American War Making on the Frontier, 1607–1814. Cambridge University Press.
  ISBN 978-0-521-73263-5
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Attribution:

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cumberland, William Augustus, Duke of". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 623–624.

Further reading

Wikisource has the text of the 1885–1900 Dictionary of National Biography's article about William Augustus.

• Anderson, M.S. (1995). The War of Austrian Succession 1740–1748. Routledge.
  ISBN 978-1317899211
  .
• Henderson, Andrew (1766). A Life of the Duke of Cumberland.
• Maclachlan, Campbell (1876). William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland.
• Oates, Jonathan (2008). Sweet William or the Butcher? The Duke of Cumberland and the '45'. Pen & Sword Military.
• Philipps, Wolfgang (2014). "Welfen-Prinz Wilhelm August: Lieblingssohn und schottisches Hassbild". Lehrter Land & Leute: Magazin zur Geschichte, Kultur und Heimatkunde (in German). 41: 35–37.
• Whitworth, Rex (1992). William Augustus Duke of Cumberland: A Life. Pen & Sword Books Ltd.
  ISBN 978-0-85052-354-6
  .

External links

• Ascanius; or, the Young Adventurer
• "Archival material relating to Prince William, Duke of Cumberland". UK National Archives.
• Portraits of Prince William, Duke of Cumberland at the National Portrait Gallery, London

Prince William, Duke of Cumberland House of Hanover Cadet branch of the House of Welf Born: 15 April 1721 Died: 31 October 1765
Military offices
Preceded by The Earl of Scarbrough	Colonel of the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards 1740–1742	Succeeded by The Duke of Marlborough
Preceded by Sir Charles Wills	Colonel of the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards 1742–1757	Succeeded by The Viscount Ligonier
Vacant Title last held by The Duke of Marlborough (1714–1717)	Captain-General of the British Army 1744–1757	Vacant Title next held by The Duke of York and Albany (1799–1809)
Preceded by George Wade	Commander-in-Chief of the Forces 1745–1757	Succeeded by The Viscount Ligonier
Academic offices
Preceded by The Duke of Chandos	Chancellor of the University of St Andrews 1746–1765	Succeeded by The Earl of Kinnoull
Preceded by The Prince of Wales	Chancellor of the University of Dublin 1751–1765	Succeeded by The Duke of Bedford