George of Denmark

1653 – 1708 · Generation XXVIII

George of Denmark (1653–1708). Married Anne Stuart in 1683. A younger son of Frederick III of Denmark, he fought beside his brother Christian V against Sweden in 1677, having earlier failed in a bid for the Polish throne because of his staunch Lutheranism. The match with Anne was negotiated in secret as part of an Anglo-Danish check on Dutch sea power, which made William of Orange a lasting adversary. In 1688 George abandoned James II for William; he had reportedly met each earlier desertion with “Est-il possible?”, and James is said to have quipped that “Est-il possible” was gone too. William nonetheless barred him from any military command. When Anne became queen in 1702 she made him Lord High Admiral, a largely nominal post. Of their many children only the Duke of Gloucester survived infancy, and he died at eleven, yet the couple stayed devoted. A chronic lung disease killed George in 1708; he lies in Westminster Abbey.

Place in the family

George of Denmark married Queen Anne, a 5× great-niece of King Henry VIII.

Partners

Married Queen Anne (1665 – 1714) in 1683

Life

1653 — Born
1683 — Married Anne Stuart
1708 — Died