Colonel Sir Augustus Charles Frederick FitzGeorge, (12 June 184730 October 1933) was a British Army officer and a relative of the British royal family. FitzGeorge was born in 1847 to Prince George, Duke of Cambridge, and his wife Sarah Fairbrother. His parents' marriage contravened the Royal Marriages Act 1772 and not officially recognized, thus FitzGeorge was ineligible to inherit the Dukedom of Cambridge.
FitzGeorge graduated from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in 1864, and served as an officer in the British Army until his retirement in 1900. He served as an aide-de-camp, accompanied Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) during his visit to India (1875–1876), and served as private secretary and equerry to his father, who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. In his later years, FitzGeorge served as the chairman of the Cobalt Townsite Silver Mining Company and the Casey Cobalt Mining Company, and as president of the National Health League.
Early life and family
FitzGeorge was born on 12 June 1847 at 31 Queen's Gate, South Kensington, London. He was the third and youngest son of Prince George, Duke of Cambridge, and his wife, Sarah Fairbrother. FitzGeorge's two older brothers were George FitzGeorge and Adolphus FitzGeorge.
Because his parents' marriage contravened the Royal Marriages Act 1772 and not officially recognized, FitzGeorge and his brothers were ineligible to inherit the Dukedom of Cambridge from their father. Through his father, FitzGeorge was a male-line grandson of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, and great-grandson of King George III. As a descendant of GeorgeIII, he was a first cousin once-removed of Queen Victoria and a first cousin of Queen Mary, who was the daughter of his paternal aunt, Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge.
The three sons were raised by their mother at a house at 6 Queen Street in Mayfair, while their father lived nearby at his official residence, Gloucester House at Piccadilly and Park Lane. FitzGeorge received his early education at private schools in England and Brussels.
Military career
FitzGeorge followed in his father's footsteps by serving in the British Army. He attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and was gazetted in December 1864 as an ensign into the 37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot. On 24 January 1865, FitzGeorge transferred from the 37th Regiment of Foot to become ensign in the Rifle Brigade. While serving in the Rifle Brigade, he was stationed in Montreal with the 1st Battalion for five years, from 1865 to 1870. On 14 July 1869, he was promoted to a lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade.
In 1870, FitzGeorge was appointed aide-de-camp to General Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala, Commander-in-Chief of India and served in this position from 1870 until 1875. While in India, he was part of the suite that accompanied Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) during his visit there from September 1875 until May 1876.
FitzGeorge was promoted to captain in the Rifle Brigade in November 1877, and on 20 March 1878, he transferred as a captain to the 11th Hussars, which were then stationed at Colchester Garrison. He served with the 11th Hussars at Aldershot Garrison, Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow, and Birmingham. While FitzGeorge was stationed at Aldershot, his regiment was ordered to embark for service at the Cape of Good Hope following the outbreak of the First Boer War. However, this order was cancelled soon after, and he missed his first and only opportunity for active service. In July 1881, FitzGeorge was promoted to major in the 11th Hussars. He became extra aide-de-camp to Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Alison, 2nd Baronet, who was in command of troops at Aldershot Garrison on 1 December 1883. FitzGeorge served Alison for two years. In May 1886, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 11th Hussars. The Duke of Cambridge appointed FitzGeorge to serve as his equerry-in-waiting and private secretary on 11 August 1886. In 1888, he attained the military rank of brevet colonel in the 11th Hussars.
While his father continued to reside officially at Gloucester House, his mother lived at nearby 6 Queen Street, which FitzGeorge inherited, along with all of its furniture, following her death in 1890. By 1895, he had moved into Gloucester House to live with his father and manage his affairs. When the Duke of Cambridge relinquished his role as Commander-in-Chief of the Forces on 1 November 1895, FitzGeorge was reverted to half-pay, as he was no longer private secretary to the commander-in-chief position. However, he continued to serve as his father's private secretary and equerry. FitzGeorge retired from the military on 1 November 1900.