Prince William, Duke of Cumberland

Lore & Background

In the War of the Austrian Succession, Cumberland became a major-general in 1742 and first saw active service in Germany. He shared in the glory of the Battle of Dettingen, where he was wounded in the right leg. In 1745, he was made Captain-General of British land forces and Commander-in-Chief of the allied Pragmatic Army in Flanders. At the Battle of Fontenoy, the Allies were defeated by Marshal Maurice de Saxe; Cumberland was criticised for failing to occupy nearby woods. Recalled to deal with the Jacobite rising, he pursued the retreating Jacobite army and decisively defeated them at Culloden in 1746. After the battle, he issued orders that led to the killing of wounded Jacobite soldiers, and government forces pacified the Highlands over several months.

Reader's Guide

Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, is a figure of lasting historical significance primarily for his decisive victory at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, which ended the Jacobite rising of 1745 and secured the Hanoverian succession. His subsequent harsh pacification of the Scottish Highlands and the nickname 'Butcher' Cumberland, given by his Tory opponents, have made him a controversial figure. In the War of the Austrian Succession, he commanded the main allied field army in Flanders but could not prevent French advances. Between 1748 and 1755, he attempted army reforms that were resisted. After the Convention of Klosterzeven in 1757, he never again held active military command and turned to politics and horse racing. His legacy is tied to both military effectiveness and the brutality attributed to his post-Culloden actions.

Did You Know?

• He was created Duke of Cumberland at only five years old on 27 July 1726.
• His tutor included the astronomer Edmond Halley.
• At the Battle of Dettingen in 1743, he was wounded in the right leg by a musket ball.
• After Culloden, a thanksgiving service at St Paul's included the first performance of Handel's oratorio Judas Maccabaeus, composed especially for him.