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Caroline Matilda of Great Britain

London, 22 Jul 1751 – Celle, 10 May 1775

10 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born22 Jul 1751, Londonnot verified1 source
  • TitleQueen consort of Denmark, 1766–1772not verified1 source
  • EventPosthumous birthnot verified1 source
  • Died10 May 1775, Cellenot verified1 source
  • FatherFrederick, Prince of Walesnot verified1 source
  • MotherPrincess Augusta of Saxe-Gothanot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 22 Jul 1751

    Born in London

  2. 1766–1772

    Queen consort of Denmark

  3. 1768–1771

    2 children are born

  4. 10 May 1775

    Dies in Celle, aged 23

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 2

During her lifetime

She lived through 3 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around London.

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

The 1750s · Caroline is born in London

In the news1756–1763

Seven Years' War casualties and destruction

During the Seven Years' War, some 160,000 Prussian soldiers died in battle or from disease, devastating the population.

Getting around

Slow coach travel speeds in mid-18th century

Coaching became more common after 1760, but travel remained slow; in 1755, average coach speeds to London were less than five miles per hour.

In Europe1755

Lisbon is destroyed by an earthquake

On All Saints’ Day an earthquake, a tsunami and fires levelled Lisbon and killed tens of thousands; Europe’s thinkers argued over it for decades.

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.

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

Everyday singing in homes and workrooms

Singing was a common activity in daily life, often performed without sheet music while working, such as during textile work in spinning rooms, or at church services and social gatherings.

At the table

Cheap gin for the poor

In 1751, gin was so cheap and widely consumed by the London poor that one could get drunk for a penny and dead drunk for twopence.