CAROLINE AMELIA ELIZABETH, Queen of England, wife of George IV, King of Great Britain and Hanover, second daughter of Duke Charles William Ferdinand of Bruns wick: b. 17 May 1768; d. London, 6 Aug. 1821. She was married to the Prince of Wales, after ward George IV, in 1795. After the birth of her daughter, Charlotte Augusta (7 Jan. 1796), her husband abandoned her, declaring that no one could force his inclinations. This. was the beginning of the disgraceful dispute between the two parties, which lasted till the death of Caroline, and exposed her honor to repeated accusations from her husband. The Princess of Wales lived retired from the court, at a country-seat at Blackheath, till 1808. In 1813 the contest was renewed between the two parties, the Princess of Wales complaining, as a mother, of the difficulties opposed to her seeing her daughter. In 1814 the Princess obtained per mission to go to Brunswick, and afterward to make the tour of Italy and Greece, in which the Italian Bergami was her confidant and at tendant. Many infamous reports were after ward circulated, relating to the connection be tween the Princess and Bergami. When the Prince of Wales ascended the throne, 29 Jan.
1820, he offered her an income of 1,50,000 sterling, on condition that she should renounce the title of Queen of England, and every title appertaining to that dignity, and should not again return to England. She refused the pro posal, returned to England, 5 June, and the next day entered London amid public demon strations of welcome. She was now tried for adultery, but not convicted, and in this trial Brougham acted as the Queen's attorney-gen eral. Though banished from the court, the Queen still lived at Brandenburg House, main taining a style suitable to her rank. She was re fused admission to Westminster Abbey on the occasion of the coronation of her husband, on 19 July 1821, and published a protest in the newspapers. Her tomb at Brunswick has a very short inscription, in which she is called the unhappy Queen of England. Consult Nightingale, 'Memoirs of Queen Caroline' ( London 1820) ; Adolphus, 'Life' (London 1821); Huish (London 1821); Wilk (London 1822); also Clerke, 'Life of Her Majesty Queen Caroline' (London 1821).