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The Right Honourable Major General  Alexander Augustus Frederick William Alfred George Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone  PC KG GCB GCMG GCVO DSO FRS
16th Governor General of Canada
In office June 21, 1940 – April 12, 1946
Prime Minister	William Lyon Mackenzie King
Monarch	George VI
Preceded by	John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir
Succeeded by	The Viscount Alexander of Tunis
4th Governor-General of the Union of South Africa
In office January 21, 1924 – December 21, 1930
Prime Minister	James Barry Munnik Hertzog
Monarch	George VI
Preceded by	Prince Arthur of Connaught
Succeeded by	George Villiers, 6th Earl of Clarendon
Born	April 14, 1874(1874-04-14) London, England
Died	January 16, 1957 (aged 82) London, England
Spouse	Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone
Profession	Officer
Religion	Anglican

Major General Alexander Augustus Frederick William Alfred George Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone KG GCB GCMG GCVO DSO PC FRS (born Prince Alexander of Teck; 14 April 1874–16 January 1957), was a member of the Royal Family of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, the younger brother of Queen Mary. He held the titles of a Prince of Teck in the Kingdom of Württemberg until 1917, when he relinquished his German titles and assumed the name Cambridge and was created Earl of Athlone. Alexander also served as Governor-General of the Union of South Africa from 21 January 1924 to 21 December 1930, as Governor General of Canada from 21 June 1940 to 12 April 1946, and was Chancellor of the University of London from 1932 to 1955.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Army 3 Marriage 4 Earl of Athlone 5 Governor-General of the Union of South Africa 6 Governor General of Canada 7 Later life 8 Styles and honours 8.1 Styles from birth to death 8.2 Honours 9 References

Alexander was born on 14 April 1874 at Kensington Palace in London. His father was Prince Francis, Duke of Teck, the son of Duke Alexander of Württemberg and Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde (created the Countess von Hohenstein). His mother was the Duchess of Teck (née Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge), the youngest daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge and a granddaughter of King George III. Alexander was styled His Serene Highness Prince Alexander of Teck at birth.

Alexander was educated at Eton College, Berkshire.

Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone's ancestors in three generations

Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone	Father: Francis, Duke of Teck 1837-1900	Father's father: Duke Alexander of Württemberg 1804-1885	Father's father's father: Duke Louis of Württemberg 1756-1817
			Father's father's mother: Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg 1780-1857
		Father's mother: Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde 1812-1841	Father's mother's father: Count Rhédey de Kis-Rhéde
			Father's mother's mother: Baroness Ágnes Inczédi de Nagy-Várad
	Mother: Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge 1833-1897	Mother's father: Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge 1774-1850	Mother's father's father: George III of the United Kingdom 1738-1820
			Mother's father's mother: Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 1744-1818
		Mother's mother: Augusta of Hesse-Cassel 1797-1889	Mother's mother's father: Frederick of Hesse 1747-1837
			Mother's mother's mother: Caroline Polyxene of Nassau-Unisgen

Following his education Alexander attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 7th Hussars (the Queen's Own) in 1894. He received the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) for his conduct during the Matabele campaign in the 1898–1901 Boer War.

In 1914, at the beginning of World War I, Alexander had been appointed Governor General of Canada. However, he convinced his brother-in-law King George V to release him for military service. At the outbreak of war, he was a major in the 2nd Life Guards, with whom he served throughout the war. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1915, brigadier in 1917, and honorary major general in 1918. During the closing months of the war, he served as head of the British Mission to the Belgian army.

On 10 February 1904 Alexander married his second cousin once removed, Princess Alice of Albany (23 February 1883 – 3 January 1981), the daughter of Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany and a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, at St. George's Chapel, Windsor.

Alexander and Alice had three children:

• Princess May of Teck, later styled Lady May Cambridge (23 January 1906–29 May 1994), married 23 October 1931 Colonel Sir Henry Abel Smith (26 January 1900-24 January 1993)
• Prince Rupert of Teck, later styled Viscount Trematon (24 April 1907–15 April 1928)
• Prince Maurice of Teck (29 March 1910–14 September 1910).

During World War I, anti-German feeling in the United Kingdom led Alexander's brother in law, King George V to change the name of the royal house from the Germanic House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the more English-sounding House of Windsor. The King also renounced all his Germanic titles for himself and all members of the British Royal Family who were British citizens.

In response to this, Alexander renounced his title, through a Royal Warrant from the King, dated 14 July 1917, of a Prince of Teck in the Kingdom of Württemberg and the style His Serene Highness. Alexander, along with his brother, Prince Adolphus of Teck, adopted the name Cambridge, after their grandfather, Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge. He briefly became Sir Alexander Cambridge.^[1]

A few days later, the King created his brother-in-law Earl of Athlone and Viscount Trematon. Alexander was now styled The Right Honourable The Earl of Athlone. His elder daughter was now styled Lady May Cambridge, and his surviving son adopted the courtesy title of Viscount Trematon. Alexander's wife, Alice, retained her title of a British princess with the style Her Royal Highness and became known as Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone.^[1]

Teck-Cambridge Family

Francis, Duke of Teck Children    Mary of Teck    Adolphus, Marquess of Cambridge    Prince Francis of Teck    Alexander, Earl of Athlone Adolphus, Marquess of Cambridge Children    George, Marquess of Cambridge    Mary Somerset, Duchess of Beaufort    Lady Helena Gibbs    Lord Frederick Cambridge Grandchildren    Lady Mary Whitley Alexander, Earl of Athlone Children    Lady May Abel Smith    Rupert Cambridge, Viscount Trematon    Maurice of Teck

In 1923, Lord Athlone was appointed Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, in succession to his cousin, HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught. In that capacity, he helped to resolve the controversy surrounding a proposal by Prime Minister James Hertzog that South Africa should have its own flag, in addition to the Union Flag. In recognition, George V made him a Knight of the Order of the Garter (KG) in April 1928. Athlone, a suburb of the South African city of Cape Town, was also named after him.

In June 1940, Lord Athlone was appointed Governor General of Canada at the age of 68, following the sudden death of Lord Tweedsmuir while in office. There had been calls from government and the media for a Canadian governor general, but Prime Minister Mackenzie King did not feel the time was right for this while Canada was still at war with Germany. Lord Athlone, accompanied by Princess Alice, travelled to Canada to take up his position, zig-zagging across the Atlantic in the RMS Queen Mary to avoid submarine attack, arriving safely in Halifax.

As World War II continued, Lord Athlone was very active in supporting the war effort by continuously inspecting troops, training schools, and military hospitals. Princess Alice was Honorary Commandant of the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service, Honorary Air Commandant of the Royal Canadian Air Force (Women's Division), and president of the nursing division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

As governor general, Lord Athlone hosted Prime Minister Mackenzie King, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and American President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Quebec Citadel on two separate occasions in 1943 and 1944. These meetings, known as the Quebec Conferences, helped decide the strategies of the Western Allies that would lead to victory over Nazi Germany and Japan in 1945.

Not everything was focused on the war, though. Lord Athlone created the Athlone-Vanier Engineering Fellowship at the Engineering Institute of Canada, recognizing academic excellence, leadership, and management potential. He also enjoyed the social activities around Ottawa, hosting tobogganing parties, skiing in Gatineau Park and learning how to skate.

In 1946, he was replaced as Governor General of Canada by Lord Alexander of Tunis. Lord Athlone returned to the United Kingdom to retirement at his residence in Kensington Palace. He attended the coronation of his great-niece, Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and other major royal events; however, he carried out few royal appearances on his own.

Lord Athlone died at Kensington Palace on January 16, 1957. He was buried at Frogmore Royal Burial Ground, Windsor. As both his sons had pre-deceased him, the Earldom of Athlone became extinct upon his death. His wife survived until 1981, the oldest and last surviving grandchild of Queen Victoria.

• His Serene Highness Prince Alexander of Teck (1874-1917)
• Major and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Sir Alexander Cambridge, GCB, GCVO, CMG, DSO (1917-1917)
• Major and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel The Right Honourable The Earl of Athlone, GCB, GCVO, CMG, DSO (1917-1919)
• Brigadier General The Right Honourable The Earl of Athlone, GCB, GCVO, CMG, DSO (1919-1923)
• Major General The Right Honourable The Earl of Athlone, GCB, GCVO, CMG, DSO (1923-1923)
• Major General The Right Honourable The Earl of Athlone, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, DSO (1923-1928)
• Major General The Right Honourable The Earl of Athlone, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, DSO (1923-1928)
• Major General The Right Honourable The Earl of Athlone, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, DSO, PC (1928-1931)
• Major General The Right Honourable The Earl of Athlone, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, DSO, PC (1931-1937)
• Major General The Right Honourable The Earl of Athlone, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS (1937-1957)

• Knight of the Order of the Garter
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
• Knight Grand Cross the Order of St.Michael and St. George
• Knight Grand Cross the Royal Victorian Order
• Royal Victorian Chain
• Distinguished Service Order
• Knight of Justice of the Order of St. John
• Privy Councillor
• President of The Football Association

• Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone
• Major-General The Earl of Athlone

Political offices
Preceded by Prince Arthur of Connaught	Governor-General of South Africa 1924 – 1931	Succeeded by The Earl of Clarendon
Preceded by The Lord Tweedsmuir Sir Lyman Poore Duff as administrator	Governor-General of Canada 1940 – 1946	Succeeded by The Viscount Alexander of Tunis
Academic offices
Preceded by The Earl Beauchamp	Chancellor of the University of London 1932 – 1955	Succeeded by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother
Honorary titles
Preceded by Edward, Prince of Wales	Grand Master of the Order of St Michael and St George 1936 – 1957	Succeeded by The Earl of Halifax
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation	Earl of Athlone 3rd creation 1917 – 1957	Extinct

	v • d • e Governors-General of the Union of South Africa
The Viscount Gladstone | The Viscount Buxton | HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught | The Earl of Athlone | The Earl of Clarendon | Sir Patrick Duncan | Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet | Gideon Brand van Zyl | Ernest George Jansen | Lucas Cornelius Steyn | Charles Robberts Swart

v • d • e Governors General of Canada since Confederation (1867 to present)
Monck · Lisgar · Dufferin · Lorne · Lansdowne · Stanley · Aberdeen · Minto · Grey · Connaught · Devonshire · Byng · Willingdon · Bessborough · Tweedsmuir · Athlone · Alexander · Massey · Vanier · Michener · Léger · Schreyer · Sauvé · Hnatyshyn · LeBlanc · Clarkson · Jean