Prince Albert, real name Albert-Francis-Augustus-Charles-Emmanuel, was Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and Prince Consort of England. He was born in 1819 at the Rosenau, a castle near Coburg and died in 1861. He was the second son of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg. In 1837 he entered the University of Bonn, where he devoted himself to the studies of political and natural science, history, philosophy, etc, as well as to those of music and painting. On leaving the university he made a tour through the chief cities of Italy with Baron Stockmar. On the 10th of February, 1840, he married his cousin, Queen Victoria of England. An allowance of 30,000 pounds a year was settled upon the prince, who was naturalized by act of Parliament, received the title of Royal Highness by patent, was made a field-marshal, a Knight of the Garter, of the Bath, etc. Other honours were subsequently bestowed upon him, the chief of which was the title of Prince Consort in 1857. His foreign birth at first caused him to be regarded with some suspicion, but his unfailing tact and genuine ability were not long in gaining their due recognition. He always carefully abstained from party politics, but his knowledge of the politics of his adopted country, both domestic and foreign, was profound and accurate, and must often have been of service to the queen and her advisers. He always took a deep and active interest in the welfare of the people in general. His services to the cause of science and art were very important; he presided over the commission appointed in 1841 to consider the best means of rebuilding the houses of parliament, and the great exhibition of 1851 owed much of its success to his activity, knowledge, and judgment. The amendment of the Articles of War in 1844 which ultimately put an end to duelling was due to his suggestion. Cambridge University conferred upon him the degree of L.L.D, and in 1847 he was elected chancellor. He presided and delivered the inaugural address at the meeting of the British Association at Aberdeen in 1859. He died of typhoid fever on December 14, 1861, after a short illness. A collection of his speeches and addresses was published in 1862. A biography of the prince by Sir Theodore Martin was published in five volumes at London between 1875 and 1880. Research Prince Albert
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