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Prince Octavius of Great Britain

Buckingham Palace, 23 Feb 1779 – Kew Palace, 3 May 1783

8 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 23 Feb 1779

    Born in Buckingham Palace

  2. 3 May 1783

    Dies in Kew Palace, aged 4

Family

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Parents

During his lifetime

He lived through 2 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Buckingham Palace.

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

The 1770s · Prince is born in Buckingham Palace

In the news1772

Slavery effectively outlawed in 1772

Lord Mansfield ruled in 1772 that slavery was not supported by the common law of England, effectively outlawing it.

Getting around

Walking and horseback were primary travel modes

Between 1750 and 1774, most people travelled on foot or on horseback, as walking remained the primary way to move locally and short distances.

At the table

Sixpenny dinner for craftsmen

For an average London craftsman, a typical dinner consisted of bread, beer, and cheese or fatty bacon, often costing sixpence.

Watt’s steam engine. James Watt’s much more efficient steam engine, patented in 1769, powered the mills and mines of the Industrial Revolution.Around the world · 1769–1776

Watt’s steam engine. James Watt’s much more efficient steam engine, patented in 1769, powered the mills and mines of the Industrial Revolution.

Nicolás Pérez · CC BY-SA 3.0

What people wore

Two Outfits for Respectability

Working-class individuals typically aimed to own two complete outfits, reserving their best clothing for Sundays and holidays.

Music

Music at a Black social club

At a 1773 dance in Southwark, a group of 59 Black servants entertained themselves with music played on violins and French horns. All the performers in this band were Black, and no White people were allowed to attend.

Daily life

Adjusting Rushlights Was a Child's Chore

Rushlights, made from dried reed pith dipped in fat, were a cheap source of light, though they could burn for as little as ten minutes. It was often the youngest family member's chore to manually adjust the reed in its clamp to keep the light burning.