Princess Caroline of Gloucester was an infant member of the British Royal Family, a great-grandchild of George II, niece of George III and daughter of the 1st Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh and his wife, Maria Walpole, daughter of Sir Edward Walpole and his mistress Dorothy Clement.
Background
Princess Caroline was born at Gloucester House, Piccadilly Street, London. Her father was the 1st Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, eldest son of the Prince of Wales.
Career
Her mother was the 1st Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh (previously the Countess Waldrave), née Walpole. In early March 1775, the Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh became seriously ill with smallpox. He was so much "shaken in health" that he decided to go abroad, thinking that a change of scenery would be beneficial.
Before he left, however, he wanted to make sure that none of children suffered so much, so he ordered the inoculation of Princess Sophia and Princess Caroline, which was performed on 3 March.
Princess Sophia, aged two at the time, survived and the inoculation had no known repercussion on her. However, Princess Caroline, became seriously ill on 13 March, having seizures and fits.
Princess Caroline of Gloucester died on 14 March, aged almost nine months. She was buried in Street George"s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
