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Rear Admiral Lord Adolphus FitzClarence

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Rear Admiral Lord Adolphus FitzClarence

Birth
Greater London, England
Death
17 May 1856 (aged 54)
Coxwold, Hambleton District, North Yorkshire, England
Burial
Coxwold, Hambleton District, North Yorkshire, England
Plot
Vault under chancel – memorial tablet on south wall of chancel
Memorial ID
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FitzClarence was an illegitimate child of Prince William, Duke of Clarence (later William IV) and his mistress, Dorothy Jordan. He attended a boarding school in Sunbury-on-Thames before being sent to sea at the age of eleven in 1813. He subsequently served as a midshipman aboard Newcastle based in North America and then later in the Mediterranean Sea. On receiving his commission as lieutenant in April 1821, he transferred to Euryalus and after being promoted to the rank of commander in May 1823, he later served aboard Brisk and Redwing in the North Sea. When promoted to captain in December 1824, he commanded Ariadne in 1826, Challenger in 1827 and Pallas in 1828.

On the accession of FitzClarence's father as king in 1830, he took command of the Royal Yacht, Royal George. His father also granted him and his siblings the rank of a younger son of a marquess by Royal Warrant of Precedence in 1831, enabling him to prefix Lord before his name and he was knighted the following year. He was also appointed Groom of the Robes in 1830 and a Lord of the Bedchamber in 1833.

On the death of his father and the accession of his cousin Victoria in 1837, FitzClarence retained command of the Royal Yacht (until he was promoted to a rear-admiral in 1853). In 1848, he also became a naval aide-de-camp to the queen and retained the office until he died, unmarried, at Newburgh Priory in 1856.
FitzClarence was an illegitimate child of Prince William, Duke of Clarence (later William IV) and his mistress, Dorothy Jordan. He attended a boarding school in Sunbury-on-Thames before being sent to sea at the age of eleven in 1813. He subsequently served as a midshipman aboard Newcastle based in North America and then later in the Mediterranean Sea. On receiving his commission as lieutenant in April 1821, he transferred to Euryalus and after being promoted to the rank of commander in May 1823, he later served aboard Brisk and Redwing in the North Sea. When promoted to captain in December 1824, he commanded Ariadne in 1826, Challenger in 1827 and Pallas in 1828.

On the accession of FitzClarence's father as king in 1830, he took command of the Royal Yacht, Royal George. His father also granted him and his siblings the rank of a younger son of a marquess by Royal Warrant of Precedence in 1831, enabling him to prefix Lord before his name and he was knighted the following year. He was also appointed Groom of the Robes in 1830 and a Lord of the Bedchamber in 1833.

On the death of his father and the accession of his cousin Victoria in 1837, FitzClarence retained command of the Royal Yacht (until he was promoted to a rear-admiral in 1853). In 1848, he also became a naval aide-de-camp to the queen and retained the office until he died, unmarried, at Newburgh Priory in 1856.

Inscription

TO THE MEMORY OF
REAR ADMIRAL
LORD ADOLPHUS FITZ-CLARENCE G.C.B.
RANGER OF WINDSOR HOME PARK,
BORN 18TH FEBY. 1802,
AND DIED AT NEWBURGH 17TH MAY 1856:
THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY A FEW
SINCERE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, VIZ.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE, K.G.
THE MARQUIS OF DONEGAL,
EARL OF MUNSTER,
VISCOUNT FALKLAND,
LORD DE L'ISLE AND DUDLEY,
LADY Mary FOX,
HONBLE LUCIUS CARY,
HONBLE JAMES MACDONALD,
SIR GEORGE ORBY WOMBWELL BART.

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  • Created by: Jennifer M.
  • Added: Dec 27, 2017
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/186168309/adolphus-fitzclarence: accessed ), memorial page for Rear Admiral Lord Adolphus FitzClarence (18 Feb 1802–17 May 1856), Find a Grave Memorial ID 186168309, citing St. Michael's Churchyard, Coxwold, Hambleton District, North Yorkshire, England; Maintained by Jennifer M. (contributor 1009101).