Heirs To Alfred, 1893-1900
The heir-apparent at Duke Alfred's accession was his only son
- the Hereditary Prince Alfred Alexander Wilhelm Ernst Albert, who had been born in 1874.
Hereditary Prince Alfred died on 6 February 1899 three days after attempting suicide with a revolver. The heir-presumptive was now his uncle
- Arthur William Patrick Albert, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn.
The Duke of Connaught was a career officer in the British Army and did not wish to go and rule a German duchy. His only son Prince Arthur was also reluctant to succeed, which left the young Duke of Albany (only son of Prince Albert's youngest son Leopold who had died in 1884) as next in line. Prince Arthur was a year ahead of the Duke of Albany at Eton and reportedly threatened to beat his cousin if he did not accept the duchy. These changes were effected by a law of 15 July 1899, which made
- Leopold Charles Edward George Albert, Duke of Albany, the heir-presumptive.
On the death of Duke Alfred the next year on 30 July 1900, he was duly succeeded by his nephew, who became Duke Carl Eduard.
Read more about this topic: List Of Heirs To Saxe-Coburg And Gotha
Famous quotes containing the word heirs:
“Progress celebrates Pyrrhic victories over nature. Progress makes purses out of human skin. When people were traveling in mail coaches, the world got ahead better than it does now that salesmen fly through the air. What good is speed if the brain has oozed out on the way? How will the heirs of this age be taught the most basic motions that are necessary to activate the most complicated machines? Nature can rely on progress; it will avenge it for the outrage it has perpetrated on it.”
—Karl Kraus (1874–1936)