George, prince of Denmark, born April 21. 1653, died Oct. 28, 1708. He was the second son of Frederick III. and Sophia of Luneburg. On the death of his father in 1670 war was renewed with Sweden, and the prince took part in the campaign of his brother Christian V. against Charles XL, when the rival kings commanded and fought in person. On July 28, 1683, he married the princess Anne of England, second daughter of the duke of York, afterward James II. She bore him 17 children, all of whom died before their mother's accession to the throne. The prince was wholly devoid of talent, as of ambition. I have tried him drunk," said Charles II., "and I have tried him sober; and drunk or sober, there is nothing in him." But he was brave, good-natured, and humane; taking no part in politics, and deserting his unhappy father-in-law in the hour of need, chiefly by the desire and after the example of his wife. He had been brought into the conspiracy through her subserviency to Churchill, the future duke of Marlborough, but his extreme insignificance rather excited the raillery of the king, even on this sad occasion. "After all," said James, hearing of his defection, a good trooper would have been a greater loss." After the triumph of the prince and princess of Orange, Prince George was naturalized by act of parliament and created by the new king duke of Cumberland, in acknowledgment of his cooperation in the great measure which had been achieved.

He accompanied the king to Ireland, and was present at the battle of the Boyne. On the accession of his wife, the "good Queen Anne," to the throne, in 1702, he was made lord high admiral of England. He had previously been invested with the title of generalissimo of all the queen's forces. As admiral he was assisted by a council consisting of four members. The legality of this board was much doubted, but parliament was so obsequious to the queen, that it was suffered to act without question.