#OnThisDay in 1837 Francis, Duke of Teck, father of Queen Mary, was born

[Jennifer]

Francis, Duke of Teck, was born on this day in 1837. He was the father of Queen Mary, the wife of King George V, and therefore a great-grandfather of the present Queen.

He was born Count Francis Paul Charles Louis Alexander of Hohenstein in Esseg, Slavonia (present-day Osijek, Croatia), the son of a morganatic marriage between Duke Alexander of Württemberg and Countess Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde, a Hungarian noblewoman.

When Francis was just four years old, his mother died in a carriage accident. He was educated at the Imperial Austrian Academy of Engineers from 1849 to 1853 and joined the Imperial Austrian Army as a lieutenant in the 1st Lancers in 1854. He transferred to the Guard Squadron in 1858 and later became a cavalry Captain in the 7th Hussars. He took part in the Austro-Sardinian War in 1859, and was awarded the gold medal for distinguished service at the Battle of Solferino.

Read more:
#OnThisDay in 1837 Francis, Duke of Teck, father of Queen Mary, was born – Royal Central

[LouisFerdinand]

What years was Prince Francis the president of the Royal Botanic Society?