ALFRED ERNEST ALBERT (1844-19oo), Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, and Duke of Edinburgh, second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria, was born at Windsor Castle on Aug. 6, 1844. He passed a most creditable examination for midshipman in Aug. 1858, and being appointed to the "Euryalus," at once began to work hard at the practical part of his profession. In July 186o, while on this ship, he paid an official visit to the Cape. On the abdication of Otto, king of Greece, in 1862, the crown was offered to Prince Alfred, but political conventions of long standing ren dered it impossible for the British Government to agree to the proposal. The prince therefore remained in the Navy, and was promoted to the rank of captain Feb. 23, 1866, being then ap pointed to the command of the "Galatea." On attaining his majority in 1865, the prince was created Duke of Edinburgh and Earl of Ulster, with an annuity of L15,000 granted by Parliament. While still in command of the "Galatea," the duke started from Plymouth on Jan. 24, 1867, for a voyage round the world and visited Australia and India, being received everywhere with en thusiasm. An attempt on his life at Sydney by an Irishman named O'Farrell was the only unfortunate incident. After an absence of 17 months, he returned to England.
The duke married on Jan. 23, 1874, the Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna, only daughter of Alexander II., emperor of Russia. He continued his naval duties after his marriage, and held successive high commands until 1893 when he received his baton as admiral of the fleet.
On the death of his uncle, Ernest II., Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, on Aug. 22, 1893, the vacant duchy fell to the Duke of Edinburgh, for the Prince of Wales had renounced his right to the succession. At first regarded with some coldness as a "for eigner," he gradually gained popularity, and by the time of his death, on July 3o, rgoo, he had completely won the good opinion of his subjects. The duke was exceedingly fond of music and an excellent violinist, and took a prominent part in establishing the Royal College of Music. He was also a keen collector of glass and ceramic ware, and his collection, valued at soo,000 marks, was presented by his widow to the "Veste Coburg," near Coburg. When he became Duke of Saxe-Coburg he surrendered his English allowance of L15,000 a year, but the iro,000 granted in addition by Parliament on his marriage he retained in order to keep up Clarence House. The duke had one son, who died un married on Feb. 6, 1899, and four daughters: Marie (queen of Roumania) ; Victoria Melita (Grand Duchess Cyril of Russia); Beatrice, who married Don Alphonso of Spain; and Princess Alex andra Louisa Olga Victoria of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.