Albert, Prince (1819-1861), married his first cousin, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, in 1840. As prince consort, he was respected for his industry and business sense. Some distrusted him as an adviser to the queen because he was not born in England. See Victoria (Personal life) .
Albert was born on Aug. 26, 1819, near Coburg, Germany, the son of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Saalfeld (from 1826, of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha). His full given name was Francis Charles Augustus Albert Emmanuel. He was educated as a possible consort (husband) to Victoria, whom he met in 1836. He continued his studies at Brussels and Bonn. Victoria ascended to the throne in 1837 and was crowned in 1838. In 1839, Albert visited her. They were married in 1840.
Albert became the adviser and private secretary to the queen. He reorganized the royal household, and started a study of politics. In 1841, he was appointed head of a commission to encourage the fine arts in the United Kingdom. He spent his leisure time in museums and art studios, and in parts of London where conditions were either being improved or in need of it. His speeches to the working people showed his ability and tact.
In 1847, Cambridge University elected Albert chancellor. His ideas on education helped alter the academic program, which was soon imitated by Oxford University. At the request of the Duke of Wellington, he helped reorganize the army training plan during the Crimean War. He was interested in agricultural improvements, and he planned and landscaped Victoria’s winter home on the Isle of Wight. Late in 1861, Albert’s health broke. His final act was to draw up a memorandum regarding the handling of the Trent Affair (see Trent Affair ). He died of typhoid fever on Dec. 14, 1861.
