Prince William, Duke of Cumberland was the third and youngest son of King George II and Queen Caroline. He was granted the title of Duke of Cumberland in 1726 at the age of four and was raised with high expectations, receiving a privileged education that emphasised military training and leadership. His father saw him as a potential military leader, and he was groomed from an early age to play a significant role in Britain’s military and political affairs.
Cumberland is best remembered for his decisive role in suppressing the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745–46, a campaign that culminated in the Battle of Culloden on 16 April 1746. As commander of the British forces, he led a brutal and effective victory over Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) and his Jacobite army. Culloden was the last pitched battle fought on British soil, and Cumberland’s victory ended the Jacobite threat to the Hanoverian monarchy. However, his subsequent crackdown on Jacobite supporters - marked by executions, imprisonments, and the suppression of Highland culture - earned him the nickname "Butcher Cumberland", particularly among his Tory and Scottish critics. Conversely, he was widely celebrated in England, especially in the Lowlands of Scotland and the South of England, where he was affectionately dubbed "Sweet William."
Despite his early military success, Culloden proved to be the peak of his career. He continued to lead British forces in Europe during the War of Austrian Succession (1740–1748) but suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Fontenoy (1745) against the French. His leadership came under further scrutiny during the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763), particularly after the Convention of Klosterzeven (1757), a disastrous agreement that temporarily withdrew British forces from the war. The treaty was widely condemned, and as a result, Cumberland fell out of favour with his father, King George II. Following this, he retired from active military command and turned his attention to politics and horse racing, though he never played a central role in government.
Cumberland’s later years were marked by declining health, worsened by war injuries, obesity, and a poor lifestyle. His once-powerful physique deteriorated, and he suffered from various ailments, including complications from his wounds. He died on 31 October 1765 at the age of 44, reportedly from a stroke, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
