Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone

Early life, education, and military career

Alexander was born on 14 April 1874 at Kensington Palace, the fourth child and third son of Prince Francis, Duke of Teck, and Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck. Although his mother was a granddaughter of King George III and a first cousin of Queen Victoria, Athlone, as the son of a prince of Teck in Württemberg, was styled from birth as His Serene Highness and held the title Prince Alexander of Teck. He was known, however, to his family and friends as Alge, derived from the first two letters of Alexander and George, and was characterised as a meticulous individual with a quick, but short-lived, temper and an ability to be cautious and tactful.

When Alexander was nine years old, his parents fled the United Kingdom for continental Europe to escape their high debts. They stayed there for two years. Alexander remained at Eton College before moving on to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. In October 1894, having completed his officer's training, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 7th Queen's Own Hussars, and shortly after served in the Second Matabele War. Alexander was mentioned in despatches during the conflict and, after its cessation, was appointed on 8 December 1898 by Queen Victoria as a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. He received a promotion to lieutenant in June 1899 and to captain the following April. For his actions in the Second Boer War, Alexander was, in April 1901, appointed by King Edward VII as a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.

The announcement came on 16 November 1903 that Alexander had become engaged to his second cousin once removed, Princess Alice of Albany, daughter of Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, and thus a granddaughter of Queen Victoria and niece of the then soon-to-be Governor General of Canada, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. They were married at St. George's Chapel, in Windsor Castle, on 10 February 1904 and, six days later, in celebration of the wedding, the Prince was promoted to the grade of a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. The couple thereafter had three children: Princess May of Teck, born 1906; Prince Rupert of Teck, born 1907; and Prince Maurice Francis George of Teck. Maurice, however, lived only for less than six months between 29 March and 14 September 1910.

That same year, Alexander was appointed Chairman of Middlesex Hospital.

First World War

Prior to the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, Alexander, who had been promoted to major in January 1911 and was a brevet lieutenant-colonel commanding the 2nd Regiment of Life Guards, was nominated by the British Prime Minister H. H. Asquith to serve as Governor General of Canada. However, Alexander was called up for active service with his regiment. taking him to battle in France and Flanders. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, with the temporary rank of brigadier-general, in December 1915. For his service on the battlefields, in June 1917 Alexander was appointed by his brother in law, King George V, as a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.

During the war, anti-German sentiment throughout the British Empire led the King to change the name of the royal house from the Germanic House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the more English House of Windsor, while simultaneously renouncing all Germanic titles for himself and all members of the Royal Family. Through a royal warrant issued on 14 July 1917, Alexander, along with his brother, Prince Adolphus, Duke of Teck, similarly relinquished all of his German titles, styles, and honours, choosing instead the name of Cambridge, after his grandfather, Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge. Alexander was then known simply as Sir Alexander Cambridge (being entitled to the honorific Sir through his knighthoods in the Royal Victorian Order and the Order of the Bath), until, on 7 November 1917, the King created him Earl of Athlone and Viscount Trematon. Athlone had declined a marquessate, as he thought the title did not sound British enough. Athlone's wife retained her royal style and title, while their surviving children became the Lady May Cambridge and Rupert Cambridge, Viscount Trematon. Rupert was the heir apparent to the title of Earl of Athlone, but he died on 15 April 1928 following a car crash, ten days shy of his twenty-first birthday, and the third creation of the earldom later became extinct with the death of the first earl.

Post-war career and Governor-General of the Union of South Africa

Following the cessation of hostilities in Europe in 1918, Athlone was promoted to the brevet rank of colonel in June 1919, and retired from the army that November, with the honorary rank of brigadier-general. He took up posts in the civilian world, continuing at Middlesex Hospital. Because of his experience there, he was appointed in 1921 to chair an investigative committee on the needs of doctors. Known as the Athlone Committee, its work resulted in the creation of post-graduate schools for medical education and research, such as the Royal Postgraduate Medical School at Hammersmith Hospital and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. In March 1922, he was promoted to the rank of colonel in the Regular Army Reserves, retaining his honorary rank of brigadier-general, and, in 1937, was appointed chair of a committee of inquiry into the arrangements for "recruitment, training and registration and terms and conditions of service" for nurses.

For their London residence, the Athlones used the grace and favour apartments of Princess Alice's mother, the late Duchess of Albany, in the Clock House at Kensington Palace and, in 1923, they acquired a country residence, Brantridge Park, in West Sussex.

In December of the same year, Athlone was appointed by the King as both an honorary major-general and as the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, replacing his wife's cousin, Prince Arthur of Connaught. He arrived in Pretoria in January 1924 and was immediately at work with his viceregal duties, opening the newly finished parliament building, just weeks before his South African prime minister, Jan Smuts, suddenly advised him to prorogue the legislature.

In the ensuing election—the running of which forced Athlone to cancel the planned tour of Prince Edward, Prince of Wales—the National Party won a majority of seats in the House of Assembly, meaning Athlone appointed the party's leader, James Barry Munnik Hertzog, as his new prime minister. At the time, Afrikaner nationalism was increasing in the dominion, and Hertzog was a republican who promoted the secession of South Africa from the British Empire. As such, he proposed the country adopt its own flag over the Union Flag. Athlone, however, proved sympathetic and tactful, and resolved the issue by advancing a flag that was unique to South Africa, but which still contained the Union Flag within it, despite opposition from numerous Afrikaners. He also gained popularity with South Africans of all races through his frequent tours of the country, performing a number of ceremonial duties, including opening Pioneers' Park in Johannesburg.

For his service to the Crown in South Africa, Athlone was appointed by George V as a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter, on 17 April 1928, and, upon his return to the UK, was made on 4 August 1931 the Governor and Constable of Windsor Castle. The following year, he was also selected as the Chancellor of the University of London, which post he held until 1955. In May 1936 he succeeded Field Marshal Edmund Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby as colonel of The Life Guards, an appointment he held until his death.

In 1937 he led the Ministry of Health and Board of Education Interim Report of the Interdepartmental Committee on Nursing Services, also known as The Athlone Report. It looked at nursing recruitment, retention and skills and included Dame Ellen Musson

In January 1939, Athlone was appointed president of The Football Association. The move represented the first time the FA had appointed someone that was not a football administrator to the position.

Governor General of Canada

In Canada in the late 1930s, there had been calls from government circles and the media alike for the King to appoint a Canadian-born individual as governor general. However, with the rush to fill the post after the unexpected death (on February 11, 1940) of the incumbent viceroy, Lord Tweedsmuir, and with the country embroiled in the Second World War, Canadian prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King advised King George VI that the time was not right for such a change in viceregal tradition.[[File:Duchess of Teck and family colour.jpg|thumb|The [[Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge|Duchess of Teck]] and her family c. 1880; Prince Alexander sits centre with his arm around the Duchess, [[Mary of Teck|Princess Mary]] (later Queen Mary) is seated at far right]]Instead, it was George's uncle, the Earl of Athlone, whose name Mackenzie King put forward and the Earl accepted. Subsequently, Athlone, along with his wife and his aide-de-camp, Alastair Windsor, Earl of Macduff, voyaged to Canada to take up his position, their liner using a submarine-evading zig-zag pattern across the Atlantic Ocean to Halifax, Nova Scotia. After travelling on to Ottawa by train, Athlone was sworn in during a ceremony in the Senate chamber on 21 June 1940. The Athlones' three grandchildren, Anne, Richard, and Elizabeth (children of their daughter May), lived with them in Canada for the duration of the war.

Athlone immediately made himself active in the support of the war effort, travelling across the country and focusing much of his attention on the troops, either those training at military facilities or those injured and in hospital. Viewing his position as governor general as a link between Canadians and their monarch, Athlone also communicated in speeches that the King stood with them in their fight against Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime.

The war was brought close to home for the Athlones also because many of those belonging to displaced European royal families sought refuge in Canada and resided at or near the royal and viceroyal residence, Rideau Hall. Among the royal guests were Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha of Norway; Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix of Luxembourg; King Peter II of Yugoslavia; King George II of Greece; Empress Zita of Bourbon-Parma (Austria-Hungary) and her daughters; as well as Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and her daughter, Princess Juliana. Further, in December 1941, British prime minister Winston Churchill arrived at the residence, where he presided over British Cabinet meetings via telephone from his bed.

It was Athlone's duty to play host at Quebec City to his prime minister, still Mackenzie King, as well as Churchill and President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt, who all gathered to take part in what would become known as the Quebec Conferences, with the first taking place between 17 and 24 August 1943 at the viceregal residence in La Citadelle, and the second occurring from 12 to 16 September 1944 at the Château Frontenac. It was at these meetings that the four men discussed the Allied strategies that would eventually lead to victory over Nazi Germany and Japan. When Germany fell on 8 May 1945 and Japan on 15 August of the same year, Athlone led the national celebrations held on Parliament Hill and elsewhere. He thereafter spoke in speeches about Canada's future being marked not by war but by a strong role in reconstruction and reconciliation.

During his time as the Canadian viceroy, Athlone also lent his status to various charitable and other social events, and mounted a number of activities of his own, such as tobogganing parties and skating lessons on the grounds of Rideau Hall, as well as skiing in Gatineau Park. When he departed Canada at the end of his time as the King's representative, Athlone left as a legacy the Athlone Fellowship, awarded by the Engineering Institute of Canada.

Post-viceregal life

After Lord Athlone's replacement as governor general was appointed on 21 March 1946, he returned to the United Kingdom to retirement, taking up residence again in a grace and favour apartment at Kensington Palace and, on 1 September of that year, resigning as colonel of the 7th Queen's Own Hussars. He did not completely remove himself from public activity, however, and was, along with his Canadian viceregal successor, Lord Alexander of Tunis, appointed to the committee charged with organising the coronation in 1953 of Athlone's great-niece, Queen Elizabeth II, and continued to sit as Chancellor of the University of London until 1955.

The Earl of Athlone died at Kensington on 16 January 1957 at the age of 82, and was interred in the Royal Vault at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on 19 January before being transferred to the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore on 15 May 1957. He was the last surviving great-grandchild of George III.

Titles and honours

Military ranks

• 23 October 1894; Second Lieutenant
• 8 August 1899; Lieutenant
• 6 April 1900; Captain
• 17 February 1911; Major
• 10 January 1916; Brevet Lieutenant Colonel
• 10 January 1916; Temporary Brigadier-General
• 10 January 1916; Brevet Colonel
• 5 November 1919; Honorary Brigadier-General
• 30 November 1923; Honorary Major General

Orders and decorations

British

Orders of Chivalry

• England KG: Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, 17 April 1928
• Royal standard of the United Kingdom.svg KCVO: Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order*,13 December 1898*****
  • Royal standard of the United Kingdom.svg GCVO: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order*, 16 February 1904*
• United Kingdom DSO: Companion of the Distinguished Service Order*, 19 April 1901*
• United Kingdom KStJ: Knight of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem*, 14 June 1917*{{London Gazette
• United Kingdom GCB: Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (civil division)'', 19 June 1911{{London Gazette
• United Kingdom CMG: Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George*, 4 June 1917*****
  • United Kingdom GCMG: Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George*, 6 November 1923*{{London Gazette
  • United Kingdom Grand Master of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George*, 24 June 1936*{{London Gazette

Decorations

• Royal standard of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Victorian Chain*, 28 December 1934*{{London Gazette

Campaign medals

• United Kingdom British South Africa Company Medal with Mention in Despatches*, 1897*

• United Kingdom Queen's South Africa Medal*, 1901*

• United Kingdom 1914–15 Star, 1919

• United Kingdom British War Medal*, 1919*

• United Kingdom Victory Medal with two Mentions in Despatches*, 1919*

• United Kingdom 1939–45 Star, 1945

• United Kingdom War Medal 1939–1945*, 1945*

• Canada Canadian Volunteer Service Medal*, 1947* Coronation/jubilee medals:

• United Kingdom 1897: Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal, 20 June 1897

• United Kingdom 1902: King Edward VII Coronation Medal, 9 August 1902

• United Kingdom 1911: King George V Coronation Medal, 22 June 1911

• United Kingdom 1935: King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, 6 May 1935

• United Kingdom 1937: King George VI Coronation Medal*, 12 May 1937*

• United Kingdom 1953: Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal*, 2 June 1953*

Foreign

Appointments

• Flag Koenigreich Wuerttemberg 1918.svg [[File:WUE Order of the Crown ribbon.svg|55x55px]] Grand Cross of the Order of the Württemberg Crown*, 1888 – 14 July 1917*

• Kingdom of Saxony [[File:SAX Order of the Rue Crown ribbon.svg|55x55px]] Knight of the Order of the Rue Crown , 1904 – 14 July 1917

• Flagge Großherzogtümer Mecklenburg.svg [[File:MKB Order of the Wendish Crown ribbon.svg|55x55px]] Grand Cross with Crown in Ore of the House Order of the Wendish Crown*, 22 July 1904 – 17 July 1917*

• Sweden [[File:Order of the Polar Star - Ribbon bar, pre 1975.svg|55x55px]] KmstkNO: Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star*, 1909*

• Belgium [[File:BEL - Order of Leopold - Knight bar.svg|55x55px]] Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold*, 24 October 1915*{{London Gazette

• France [[File:Legion Honneur GO ribbon.svg|55x55px]] Grand Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour'', 9 December 1916{{London Gazette

• Russian Empire [[File:Order of Saint Anna ribbon bar.svg|55x55px]] Knight First Class with Swords of the Imperial Order of Saint Anna'', 14 January 1918{{London Gazette Decorations

• Belgium Military Cross, second class'', 24 February 1916{{London Gazette

• France Croix de Guerre with palm'', 16 April 1918{{London Gazette

Undress ribbons

The undress ribbons worn by Lord Athlone in undress uniform were as follows:

Honorary appointments

[[Personal aide-de-camp|Personal Aide-de-Camp]] (ADC)

• King George V*, 3 June 1910*

• King Edward VIII'', 23 June 1936{{London Gazette

• King George VI*, 5 February 1937*

• Queen Elizabeth II'', 6 March 1953{{London Gazette

• Honorary military appointments

• South Africa Colonel-in-Chief of the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles*, 1930*

• Governor and Constable of Windsor Castle*, 4 August 1931*

• UK Colonel of the Life Guards*, 1936*

• Canada Colonel of the Governor General's Horse Guards*, 21 June 1940* – 12 April 1946

• Canada Colonel of the Governor General's Foot Guards*, 21 June 1940* – 12 April 1946

• Canada Colonel of the Canadian Grenadier Guards*, 21 June 1940* – 12 April 1946

• Canada Honorary Member of the Royal Military College of Canada Club*, 1940*

Civil

• United Kingdom PC: Member of the His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council*, 31 June 1931*{{London Gazette
• United Kingdom FRS: Fellow of the Royal Society*, 1937*
• Canada Chief Scout for Canada*, 21 June 1940*

Honorific eponyms

Awards

• South Africa: Athlone Institute Bursary Project Fund, Paarl

Geographic locations

• Alberta: Athlone, Edmonton
• Newfoundland and Labrador: Athlone
• South Africa: Athlone, Cape Town

Buildings

• South Africa: Athlone Power Station, Cape Town
• South Africa: Athlone Stadium, Cape Town

Schools

• Alberta: Athlone Elementary School, Edmonton
• Manitoba: Athlone School, Winnipeg
• South Africa: Athlone House, Queen's College, Queenstown
• South Africa: Athlone Boys High School, Johannesburg
• South Africa: Athlone Institute, Paarl

Arms

Sinister: a Stag Proper, differenced on the shoulder by a Crescent Argent.

Ancestry

Notes

References

References

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52. "Who We Are". Athlone Institute Bursary Project Fund.
53. "Athlone Boys School". Athlone Boys School.