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Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone

Kensington Palace, 14 Apr 1874 – London, 16 Jan 1957

12 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born14 Apr 1874, Kensington Palacenot verified1 source
  • Titlemember of the House of Lordsor Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, 1924–1930 · Governor General of Canada, 1940–1946 · Member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdomnot verified1 source
  • TitleMember of the Privy Council of the United Kingdomor Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, 1924–1930 · Governor General of Canada, 1940–1946 · member of the House of Lordsnot verified1 source
  • TitleGovernor-General of the Union of South Africa, 1924–1930or Governor General of Canada, 1940–1946 · member of the House of Lords · Member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdomnot verified1 source
  • TitleGovernor General of Canada, 1940–1946or Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, 1924–1930 · member of the House of Lords · Member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdomnot verified1 source
  • Died16 Jan 1957, Londonnot verified1 source
  • FatherPrince Franz, 1st Duke of Tecknot verified1 source
  • MotherPrincess Mary Adelaide of Cambridgenot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 14 Apr 1874

    Born in Kensington Palace

  2. 1906–1910

    3 children are born

  3. 1924–1930

    Governor-General of the Union of South Africa

  4. 1940–1946

    Governor General of Canada

  5. 16 Jan 1957

    Dies in London, aged 82

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 3

During his lifetime

He lived through 9 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Kensington Palace.

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

The 1870s · Alexander is born in Kensington Palace

In the news1879

1879 Tay Bridge collapses killing 75 passengers

In 1879, the two-mile Tay Bridge collapsed during a storm, killing 75 passengers in Britain's largest engineering disaster.

What people wore

Sunday Best as a Status Symbol

Ordinary working-class men and women maintained a Sunday best outfit, often a three-piece suit for men, to symbolize respectability and celebrate the weekly day of rest.

Getting around

Rail travel speed in 1872

In 1872, a 220-mile rail journey from Manchester to Scotland took over 9.5 hours at an average speed of 23 miles per hour, which was still twice as fast as the quickest coaches.

Italy is unified. Garibaldi, Cavour and Victor Emmanuel joined the Italian states into one kingdom, with Rome its capital from 1871.In Europe · 1859–1871

Italy is unified. Garibaldi, Cavour and Victor Emmanuel joined the Italian states into one kingdom, with Rome its capital from 1871.

Baldassare Verazzi (1819-1886) · public domain

In the news1870

1870 Education Act mandate school for everyone

The Education Act of 1870 mandated that school became accessible for everyone in Britain.

Music

Collecting Coins for Dance Music

At platform dances, musicians sometimes used a portable dancing booth with a box placed out front to collect coins from each dancer. This ensured payment for players when the older custom of paying during long-wise country dances became difficult to manage.

Daily life

Compulsory education began in 1880

Compulsory school attendance was established in 1880 for children aged five to ten, helping to increase literacy rates significantly.