Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-24
THE HEIR APPARENT.
Some Facts About the New Prince of
Wales.


From the New York Tribune.
The new Prince of Wales and heir ap-
parent to the British throne is George Fred
erick Ernest Albert. until the Queens death
bearing the title Duke of York. He was
born on June 3. 1868, and on the death Of
his brother, the Duke of Clarence, in Janu-
airy. 1892 he became the heir after his
father to the British throne. The title of
Duke of York is appropriated exclusively
to members of the royal family of Great
Britain. 1t has often been given to young
of the reiGning monarch, and the
title was borne by Henry VIII, Charles
and James II before they assembled the
throne. The first duke Edmund Of
Langley, fifth son of Edward III, who
created him Duke of York about 1855 when
he was forty-four years old; the last to
hold the title was James H. who died in
1101. But the house of Hanover revived
the title in 1116, when Ernest Augustus,
brother of George l and bishop of Osna
burg, was created Duke of York and AL
bany. Prince Edward Augustus brother of
George III, and the second son of George
ILL., Prince Frederick, were the last to hold
the title, which became extinct on the lat
ters death, in 1927. A part of the title was
revived in 1881, when Prince Leopold,
fourth son of Queen Victoria, was created
Duke of Albany.
From his early childhood Prince George
presented striking contrast TO his elder
brother. the Duke of Clarence. The latter
was pale, pensive retiring, but with a sin
gular grace of manner and department that
never afterward forsook him: the other
was ruddy of countenance, full of bright
ness and brusque vivacity The features of
the elder were finely cut, in close resem-
blance to those of his father at the same
early age Prince George, on the other
hand, bears a striking likeness to the Prin-
cess of Wales sister the empress dowager
of Russia, not only in the general form
and cast Of countenance. but also in detail
of feature and expression.
Throughout their boyhood the two We're
constant companions. An extraordinary
intimacy and sympathy existed between
them, and each eXerted marked influence
over the other. Together they entered the
George had only reached the required age
two days before, and was perhaps the
youngest cadet ever admitted to service
For two years they Were on the training
ship Dartmouth the younger winning
reputation for athletic proves unusual for
his age Then, on July II, 1879, they set
out on their famous three years voyage
in the Bacchante. They visited the West
indies, South America, the cape. Australia,
FIJI, Japan, China, Singapore and Ceylon.
The Bacchante was then ordered through
the Suez canal into the Mediterranean, and
a considerable period of time was spent
by the princes in Egypt, the Holy Land
and Greece during the spring of 1882. At
ter returning to England Prince George
went with his brother TO Switzerland. They
lived at Lausanne for six months Then,
on May l. 1883, Prince George was an
pointed midshipman to the Canada, which
was then commissioned for service on the
North American and West Indian stations
Besides visiting many other places in the
dominion and North America. he assembled
the ST. Lawrence in her far as Mon
treal. During the ensuing winter the Can
ada crused among the West Indian Is
lands and visited Demerara and British
(.,j. no, l,- hi
became the senior midshpman in the serv-
ice, and was waiting till his age allowed
him to present himself for his examination
as sub-lieutenant This he did on the
earliest day possible, namely, his twenty
first birthday, June 3, 1884 when he OBJ
tanned a frst class in seamanShip. On re-
turning home he at once joined, as all sub
iieutenants have TO do, the Naval College
at Greenwich for further instruction, and
subsequently went on the ship Excellent
at Portsmouth. Here he went through the
course exactly like anybody else. Every
sub-lieutenant has to pass five examina-
tions-one each in seamanship, in naviga-
ton in torpedo, in gunncry and in pilotage
In four of these Prince George achieved
the unusual distinction of obtaining first
class and thus Won his promotion to lieu
tenants rank on October S, 1883.
Early in the following year he was as
signed to service on the Thunderer, in the
Mediterranean, and then in the Dread
nought on which latter ship he became Iieu-
until April 20, 1888, when he was transfer
red to the flagship Alexandra, on which his
| uncle, the Duke of Edinburgh, was admiral.
Thus he completed three successful wears
of service in the Mediterranean, and then
returned to England for another course of
training in gunnery at Portsmouth. His
next appointment at sea was on February
l. 1889, on the Northumberland, flagship of
the channel squadron. He took part in the
naval maneuvers of that year command
er of torpedo boat. In the course of the
| maneuvers another torpedo boat disabled
| her screw off the coast of Ireland and was
! in danger of drifting on to a lee shore The
! sea was running high and there was a stiff
! gale blowing. Prince George was sent to
| her assistance. The task was a most diff
| cult one, owing to the delicate construction
| of such boats. He showed, however such
skill, Judgment and nerve in approaching
securing with wire hawser after several
hours effort and ultima tely towing the dis
| ahled craft into safety as won him high
praise.
The admiralty ordered the prince on May
6, 1880, to the command of the large gun.
boat Thrush, on the North American and
West Indian stations. In that capacity he
successfully accomplished the difficult task
| of towing a torpedo boat across the Allan
tic. He also visited Canada and the United
States and acted as the queens representa-
tive in opening the industrial exhibition a
| Kingston, Jamaica Returning to England
he was promoted to the rank of commander
on August q, 1891. In the autumn Of tina
! year he went to visit his brother, the Duke
| of Clarence, at Dublin. There he contract
ed typhoid fever, and nearly lost his life
| But his robust constitution held out and h,
recovered his health just in time to stant
by the deathbed of his brother, who hat
| fallen victim to pneumonia.
| Prince George was created Duke of York
| Earl of Inverness and Baron Killarney O,
the queens birthday. May "a 1892. Hi
marriage with Princess Mary Of Teck, VIII,
had been affianced to the Duke of Clarence
was celebrated in the Chanel Royal ST
James. on July g. 1888. Three sons ant
a daughter have been born of this union
and the assurance of an heir to the thron,
In the direct male line has given great sat
isfa ction in England, where at one time ap
prehensfOns were entertained that tn
| crnwp might mass n the Duchaas NJ Tito