Prince William Henry of Great
Britain and Ireland, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1743-1805)
Born 14 November 1743 Leicester House
Died 25 August 1805 London, Gloucester House
Married 6 September 1766 London
Maria Walpole, daughter of Sir Edward Walpole, Chief
Secretary of Ireland and Dorothy Clement
Born 10 July 1736
Died 22 August 1807 Brompton
Child by (a) Lady Almeria Carpenter, daughter of George
Carpenter, 1st Earl of Tyrconnel and Frances Clifton
Born circa 1752
Died 5 October 1809 Edinburgh, Holyrood Palace
In 1766 the Duke of Gloucester had privately married Maria, Dowager
Countess Waldegrave, a widow, seven years older and the mother of
three daughters. They went to live abroad and the marriage was
formally acknowledged just twenty-four hours before she gave birth
to
a son. As a result, a few months later the Royal Marriage Act was
passed which required prior consent of the Sovereign. Some years later
the Duke fathered a child by Lady Almeria Carpenter, who not only
always considered herself the Duke's wife but maintained she had
letters from the Duke proving her claim. Unfortunately, these letters,
by her own request, were buried with her when she died in 1809. The
child was given to be brought up to Mr. Farley Edsir, who was steward
to the Duke of Gloucester.
Source: Leo van de Pas
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