Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03

William Augustus Biography and Timeline

Follow William Augustus through 27 dated historical records for Great Britain.

William Augustus, historical timeline

A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.

27Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1721–1757Years on this page

1721

Birth of William Augustus

Duke · House / House of Hanover

Birth of William Augustus, 2nd surviving son of George II & Caroline of Ansbach

1726

Peerage

Duke · Cumberland · House / House of Hanover

Created the Duke of Cumberland

1740

Coldstream Guards

Duke · Colonel · London · Warfare / Military

Appointed Colonel of the Coldstream Guards

Colonel

Duke · Colonel · London · Warfare / Military

Appointed Colonel of the Coldstream Guards

1742

Major General

Duke · Major General · London · Warfare / Military

Appointed Major General

1743

Battle of Dettingen

Duke · Major General · Dettingen · Warfare / War of Austrian Succession

Fights under his father at Dettingen

Role range: 1740-1748

Captain

Duke · Captain General · Flanders · Warfare / Military

Appointed Captain General of all British land forces & the Allies in Flanders

Captain

Duke · Captain General · Flanders · Warfare / War of Austrian Succession

Appointed Captain General of all British land forces & the Allies in Flanders

Role range: 1740-1748

1745

Battle of Fontenoy

Duke · Fontenoy · Warfare / War of Austrian Succession

Defeated by the French while relieving Tournai

Role range: 1740-1748

Siege of Bruges

Duke · Bruges · Warfare / War of Austrian Succession

During the Battle of Fontenoy Cumberland is forced to retreat to Brussels and wis unable to prevent the fall of Ghent, Bruges and Ostend

Role range: 1740-1748

Siege of Ghent

Duke · Ghent · Warfare / War of Austrian Succession

During the Battle of Fontenoy Cumberland is forced to retreat to Brussels and wis unable to prevent the fall of Ghent, Bruges and Ostend

Role range: 1740-1748

Siege of Ostend

Duke · Ostend · Warfare / War of Austrian Succession

During the Battle of Fontenoy Cumberland is forced to retreat to Brussels and wis unable to prevent the fall of Ghent, Bruges and Ostend

Role range: 1740-1748

Siege of Tournai

Duke · Tournai · Warfare / War of Austrian Succession

During the Battle of Fontenoy Cumberland is forced to retreat to Brussels and wis unable to prevent the fall of Ghent, Bruges and Ostend. Cumberland advances to the relief of Toutnai, which was besieged by Marshal Saxe, in the resulting Battle of Fontenoy the Allies were defeated by the French

Role range: 1740-1748

Siege of Tournai

Duke · Captain General · Tournai · Warfare / War of Austrian Succession

Defeated by Marshal Saxe in an a failed effort to relieve Tournai

Role range: 1740-1748

Battle of Prestonpans

Duke · London · Warfare / Jacobite Rebellion

After the Jacobite victory at Prestonpans Cumberland has returned to England

Role range: 1745-1746

Invasion of Great Britain

Duke · Warfare / Jacobite Rebellion

As the leading British general of the day, Cumberland is chosen to put a decisive stop to Charles Edward Stuart, a direct descendent of James VII of Scotland and II of England (James VII/II the last Stuart king on the male line), in the Jacobite

Invasion of Great Britain

Duke · Warfare / Jacobite Rebellion

rise and join them however, after receiving only limited support such as the Manchester Regiment, the followers of Charles decide to withdraw to Scotland

Invasion of Great Britain

Duke · Warfare / Jacobite Rebellion

rising, the appointment is popular, and causes morale to soar amongst the public and troops loyal to King George, Recalled from Flanders, Cumberland proceedes with preparations for quelling the Stuart (Jacobite) uprising, the Jacobite army had advanced southwards into England, hoping that English Jacobites would

Captain General

Duke · Warfare / War of Austrian Succession

Cumberland is given the honorary title of Captain General of the British land forces and in Flanders becomes Commander in Chief of the allied British, Hanoverian, Austrian and Dutch troops

Role range: 1740-1748

Commander in Chief

Duke · Warfare / War of Austrian Succession

Cumberland is given the honorary title of Captain General of the British land forces and in Flanders becomes Commander in Chief of the allied British, Hanoverian, Austrian and Dutch troops

Role range: 1740-1748

1746

Battle of Culloden Moor

Duke · Culloden Moor · Warfare / Jacobite Rebellion

The last land Battle in Britain. In 40 minutes 20% of the 5,000 Highland army is killed, Cumberland loses 50 from 9,000. Charles & Murray attempt to surprise Cumberland but the Stuarts are defeated

Role range: 1745-1746

Capture of Carlisle

Duke · Carlisle · Warfare / Jacobite Rebellion

Captures Carlisle from the Jacobites

Role range: 1745-1746

Massacre

Duke · Highlands · Warfare / Jacobite Rebellion

Launches a campaign against the clans after Culloden & earns the name "Bloody Butcher"

Role range: 1745-1746

1747

Battle of Laufield

Duke · Laufield · Warfare / War of Austrian Succession

Defeated by Marshal Saxe

Role range: 1740-1748

1757

Battle of Hameln

Duke · Hameln · Warfare / Seven Years War

Defeated by Marshal dEstees near Hameln

Role range: 1756-1763

Convention

Duke · Klosterzeven · Warfare / Seven Years War

With Fredericks decisive victory over the French at Rossbach, the British renege on the Convention of Klosterzeven and continue the war. Forced to dissolve his army & leave Hannover open to French attack. Following the defeat at Hastenbeck, the allied army withdraws north and Cumberland signs the humiliating Convention of Klosterzeven, ending the war in Germany

Role range: 1756-1763

Resignation of William Augustus

Duke · Warfare / Seven Years War

After Klosterzeven resigns in disgrace & retires to Windsor Castle

Role range: 1756-1763

Records, sources and methodology

These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.