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Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife

Edinburgh, 10 Nov 1849 – Aswan, 29 Jan 1912

13 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born10 Nov 1849, Edinburghnot verified1 source
  • TitleCaptain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Armsor member of the 21st Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1874–1879 · member of the House of Lords, 1879–1912 · Lord Lieutenant of the County of London, 1900–1912not verified1 source
  • Titlemember of the 21st Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1874–1879or member of the House of Lords, 1879–1912 · Lord Lieutenant of the County of London, 1900–1912 · Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Armsnot verified1 source
  • Titlemember of the House of Lords, 1879–1912or member of the 21st Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1874–1879 · Lord Lieutenant of the County of London, 1900–1912 · Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Armsnot verified1 source
  • TitleLord Lieutenant of the County of London, 1900–1912or member of the 21st Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1874–1879 · member of the House of Lords, 1879–1912 · Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Armsnot verified1 source
  • Died29 Jan 1912, Aswanor 10 Jan 1912Records disagree1 source
  • MotherAgnes Duff, Countess Fifenot verified1 source
  • FatherJames Duff, 5th Earl Fifenot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 10 Nov 1849

    Born in Edinburgh

  2. 1874–1879

    Member of the 21st Parliament of the United Kingdom

  3. 1879–1912

    Member of the House of Lords

  4. 1890–1893

    3 children are born

  5. 1900–1912

    Lord Lieutenant of the County of London

  6. 29 Jan 1912

    Dies in Aswan, aged 62

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 3

During his lifetime

He lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Edinburgh.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1840s · Alexander is born in Edinburgh

In the news1840

Introduction of the Penny Post

The Uniform Penny Post was introduced in 1840, making mail affordable and leading to a five-fold increase in sent letters.

Getting around

Steam ships slashed river travel times

Before steam packets, a boat trip from Gainsborough to Hull could take four to seven days; by 1833, a steam packet could travel the 104-mile return journey in a single day.

In Europe1845–1852

The Great Famine in Ireland

Potato blight ruined harvests: a million Irish people died and a million more emigrated, many to America.

Daily life

Candlelight and rushlights provided minimal illumination

Without electricity or gas, ordinary people relied on simple tallow candles or rushlights dipped in animal fat, which burned for only about one hour each.

What people wore

The Monthly Laundry Operation

Laundry was so time-consuming that large households might only wash once a month, performing a massive operation lasting up to a week that disrupted the entire house.

Music

Evolution of popular dance and movement

Formal dancing evolved during this period from traditional country dances and minuets to include newer, intimate partner dances like the quadrille and the waltz, with the polka emerging by 1840. Early public performances of the waltz were known to involve energetic movements like hopping, stamping, and throwing partners in the air.

At the table

Widespread Adulteration of Basic Foods

Adulteration was widespread, with milk frequently mixed with chalk and water, and butter often colored with added copper.