Life of the Prince Consort

Sir Theodore Martin (1816-1909), KCB, KCVO was senior partner in a firm of parliamentary agents before turning to writing, translation and poetry. His works include translations of Dante, Heine, Goethe and Schiller and he published a complete translation of Horace together with a Life of the poet. His 'Life of the Prince Consort' was written at the request of Queen Victoria, and won him her lifelong friendship. He was knighted in 1880.

• Selected ContentsVOLUME 11. 1819-36: Early years of Prince's life2. 1820-39: Birth and education of Princess Victoria; First visit of Prince to England Accession of Princess Victoia; Project of Marriage between Prince and Queen Victoia3. 1839: Estimate by Baron Stockmar of Prince's character; Prince's second visit to England; Betrothal of Queen and Prince4. 1840: Announcement of Royal Marriage in England; How the announcement received in England; Discussions as to Prince's annuity; his status and rights of precedence; Marriage5. 1840: contd Position of the Prince in his household; His rules of conduct; State of public affairs in England; Awkward relations with France on the Eastern question6. 1840 contd: The Prince as musician and artist; His first public speech; Oxford shoots at Queen; Prince appointed Regent; The Eastern question; Birth of Crown Princess7. 1841: Difficulties of Melbourne administration; Launch of the Trafalgar; Downfall of Melbourne administration; Peel ministry; Sir R. Peel's estimate of Prince; Fine Arts Commission; Birth of Prince of Wales8. 1842: King of Prussia's arrival in England; Uneasy state of public affairs; Income tax; Disasters in India; Queen shot at by Francis; Next day Queen fired at by Bean;Disturbed state of country;Prince applies himself to study of politics; Necessity for reorganisation of Royal household 9. 1843: Reorganisation of Royal household; Development of Prince's character; Birth of Princess Alice; Efforts of Prince to supress duelling10. 1843: Royal visit to the King of the French; Alarming state of Ireland11. 1844: Death of Prince's father; Letters to the Queen; Arrival of King of Saxony and Emperor of Russia on visit to Queen; Opinions of Emperor on political questions 12. 1844 contd: Birth of Prince Alfred; Threatened disturbance of relations with France; Visit of Prince of Prussia13. 1844-5: Osborne purchased and laid out by Prince; Peel's financial measures; Discussions as to title of King Consort; Peel declines offer of the Garter14. 1845 contd: Queen's visit to Germany; Second visit to Chateau d'Eu15. 1845-6: Troubled state of affairs in England; Sir R. Peel resigns; Russell fails in forming an administration; Landscape gardening; Defeat of ministry on Irish Coercion Bill16. 1846 contd: Settlement of Oregon question; Birth of Proncess Helena; Disatress in Ireland; New house at Osborne17. 1846 contd: The Spanish marriage18. 1846-7: Alarming political symptons in Europe; Ripening of the character of Prince; Installation of Princeas Chancellor of Cambridge University19. 1847: Revolutionary symptons throughout Europe; Great distress in Ireland; Character of King of Prussia by Prince; English intervention in affairs of Portugal; Royal voyage to Scotland20. 1847 contd: Prince's birthday; State of Italy; Memorandum by Prince on the subject; Letter by him to Lord John Russell21. 1847 contd: Memorandum by Prince on state of affairs in Germany; Correspondence between Baron Stockmar and the Prince22. 1847-8: Great commercial and financial distress in England and Scotland; Critical condition of France;Hampden contoversy; Insurrection in Sicily; Birth of Proncess LouiseAppendix: Royal correspondence on the subject of the Spanish Marriages VOLUME II23. 1848: Revolution in Milan; Revolutions in Naples, Vienna, Berlin; Movement for Unification of Germany24. 1848 contd: Belgium unshaken;Chartist disturbances in London25. State of Ireland; Chartist riots in England; Cheerfulness of Prince; His sympathy with working classes26. 1848 contd: Prince takes great interest in movement for Unification of Germany; Separate plans by Princeand Baron Stockmar for regeneration of Germany27. 1848 co