First creation, 1801 It was created first in 1801 as a
substantive title by King
George III for his son
Prince Augustus Frederick. Augustus Frederick was also created
Duke of Sussex and
Earl of Inverness, on the same day. The title became extinct upon Prince Augustus Frederick's death in 1843. Although Prince Augustus Frederick was survived by a son and daughter by
Lady Augusta Murray, their marriage (purportedly solemnized at
St George's Hanover Square Church,
Westminster, in 1793) had been annulled for lack of royal permission under the
Royal Marriages Act 1772, rendering the children illegitimate under English law and unable to inherit titles from their father. Both children by the annulled marriage died childless, rendering the issue of their inheritance moot. On 2 May 1831, Prince Augustus Frederick married secondly (and again in contravention of the
Royal Marriages Act 1772),
Lady Cecilia Gore at
Great Cumberland Place, London. Not being the Prince's legitimate wife, Lady Cecilia could not be received at court. On 30 March 1840, she was given the title of
Duchess of Inverness in her own right by
Queen Victoria.
Second creation, 1881 The second creation in 1881, as a substantive title by
Queen Victoria for her son
Prince Leopold. Leopold was also created Duke of Albany and Earl of Clarence, on the same day. Prince Leopold's son,
Prince Charles Edward (who had succeeded as reigning
Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1900), was deprived of the peerage in 1919 for bearing arms against the United Kingdom in
World War I. ==Baron Arklow, first Creation (1801)==