Who was Albert, Prince Consort? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In August, German Celebrities Born In August

Also Known As: Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel

Died At Age: 42

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Queen of the United Kingdom (m. 1840), Queen Victoria, Victoria

father: Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

mother: Princess Louise of Saxe Gotha Altenburg, Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg

siblings: Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Ernest II

children: Alfred, Alfred - Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess of Argyll, Duke of Albany, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Edward VII, Prince Arthur, Prince Arthur - Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Prince Leopold, Prince Leopold - Duke of Albany, Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom, Princess Helena of the United Kingdom, Princess Louise, Princess Louise - Duchess of Argyll, Princess Royal, Victoria, Victoria - Princess Royal

Born Country: Germany

Royal Family Members British Men

Died on: December 14, 1861

place of death: Windsor Castle, Windsor, United Kingdom

Cause of Death: Typhoid Fever

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Albert, Prince Consort played a key role in modernizing the British monarchy by championing science, arts, and industry.
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Albert, Prince Consort was instrumental in organizing the Great Exhibition of 1851, which showcased the advancements of the Industrial Revolution.
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Albert, Prince Consort played a significant role in shaping the education system in Britain, advocating for educational reform and supporting the development of universities.
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Albert, Prince Consort was actively involved in military affairs, serving as the nominal head of the British Army and supporting military reforms.

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Childhood & Early Life

Prince Albert was born on 26 August 1819, in Schloss Rosenau, near Coburg, Germany, to Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and his first wife, Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.

Upon the death of his great-uncle Frederick IV, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg in 1825, Albert's father became the reigning duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

His parents had a turbulent marriage and were eventually separated. His father divorced his mother on the grounds of adultery and exiled her. Aged just seven at the time of his parents’ divorce, Albert probably never saw his mother again. He sought solace in the company of his elder brother, Ernest, with whom he shared a close bond.

As a young boy, he received private tuitions at home and was later enrolled at the ‘University of Bonn’ where he studied law, political economy, philosophy, and art history. A talented young man, Albert was also musically inclined and athletic.

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Later Years

He married his cousin Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, on 10 February 1840, at the ‘Chapel Royal,’ ‘St James's Palace.’ Upon his marriage, he was formally titled ‘HRH Prince Albert,’ a title he would hold for the next 17 years before he would be formally granted the title ‘Prince Consort’ in 1857.

He started taking up public roles after marriage and became president of the ‘Society for the Extinction of Slavery.’ He was an abolitionist who disapproved of child labor.

He attempted to modernize the royal finances and by 1844 was successful in raising sufficient capital to purchase ‘Osborne House’ on the Isle of Wight as a private residence for his family, which was by now growing steadily.

Prince Albert was elected as chancellor of the ‘University of Cambridge’ in 1847. As the chancellor of the university, he campaigned for reforms in the education sector. He was successful in advocating modern university curricula, which included subjects like modern history and natural sciences in addition to the traditional subjects like mathematics and classics.

He was a man of progressive and relatively liberal ideas. In addition to reforms in the education sector, he also helped his wife in implementing many welfare schemes for the citizens.

Prince Albert, along with Henry Cole, organized the ‘Great Exhibition of 1851,’ a ‘World's Fair’ event celebrating the British industrial advancement and culture. The fair was attended by numerous notable figures of the time, including Charles Darwin, Samuel Colt, Charlotte Bronte, and Lewis Carroll. Albert was also the president of the ‘Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.’

He was appointed to several offices, including the mastership of ‘Trinity House’ and the colonelcy of the ‘Grenadier Guards,’ which were left vacant by the death of the Duke of Wellington.

By March 1854, Britain and Russia were embroiled in the ‘Crimean War.’ Albert devised a master-plan for winning the war by laying siege to Sevastopol while starving Russia economically. Albert’s plan eventually became the Allied strategy after the Tsar decided to fight a defensive war.

Albert also promoted many public educational institutions. During meetings, he spoke of the need for better schooling.

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He guided his wife on national as well as international affairs. When the situation was getting out of control during the ‘Trent Affair’ in 1861, which threatened war between the United States and Britain, Albert intervened and helped end the affair peacefully through diplomatic response.

Major Works

As the husband of Queen Victoria, he played the role of a close confidant and trusted advisor to the queen. A man of progressive ideals, he led many reforms in the education and welfare sectors. Also, he guided his wife in matters of national and international affairs.

Awards & Achievements

The British Empire bestowed upon him several honors, including ‘Knight of the Garter,’ ‘Great Master of the Order of the Bath,’ ‘Extra Knight of the Star of India,’ and ‘Knight Grand Cross of St Michael and St George.’

He also received foreign honors, including ‘Grand Cross of the Order of St. Stephen of Hungary,’ which was conferred by the Austrian Empire, and ‘Knight of the Golden Fleece’ from Spain.

Personal Life & Legacy

Albert and his first cousin Queen Victoria felt mutual affection for each other and Victoria proposed marriage to him on October 1839. The idea of their marriage had been in the minds of their family members for long. The couple tied the knot on 10 February 1840 at the ‘Chapel Royal,’ ‘St James's Palace.’

The couple had a happy marriage based on mutual love, trust, and respect. Their union produced nine children and 42 grandchildren.

He began to suffer from severe stomach cramps in 1859 and grew steadily weaker over the next couple of years. He was diagnosed with typhoid on 9 December 1861 and died a few days later on 14 December 1861. Even though his illness was diagnosed as typhoid fever at the time, modern medical examiners believe that he suffered from a more serious illness, such as cancer or Crohn’s disease.

The queen was grief-stricken at the death of her beloved husband and never recovered completely from this terrible loss.

Lake Albert in Africa and the city of Prince Albert in Saskatchewan, Canada are named in his honor. In 1864, ‘The Royal Society of Arts’ (RSA) instituted the ‘Albert Medal’ in his honor.

Facts About Albert, Prince Consort

Prince Albert was an avid supporter of the arts and sciences, helping to establish institutions such as the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria and Albert Museum).

He was a pioneer in the field of photography, commissioning numerous portraits and studies during his lifetime.

Prince Albert was known for his interest in technological advancements, particularly in the areas of engineering and manufacturing.

He played a key role in promoting the use of steam power and other innovations during the Industrial Revolution.

Despite the strict etiquette of the Victorian era, Prince Albert was known for his more relaxed and informal demeanor in private settings, often engaging in casual conversations with those around him.

Albert, Prince Consort Biography

You wanted to know

Where did Albert, Prince Consort attend university?

What was Albert, Prince Consort's role in modernizing the British monarchy?

What was Albert, Prince Consort's impact on the Great Exhibition of 1851?

How did Albert, Prince Consort influence the education system in Britain?

What was Albert, Prince Consort's involvement in the military?