Life of Frederick, Prince of Wales, 1707-1751

Frederick, Prince of Wales (1707-1751), notoriously dubbed “Poor Fred,” has hitherto been known primarily for having predeceased his father George II. In his 24 years as heir to the throne, however, he established himself as Britain’s greatest royal collector between Charles I and George IV, and many of the finest works of art in the present Royal Collection prove to have been acquired by him. The late Dr. Frances Vivian’s biography, the fruit of long years of archival research, re-examines Frederick’s role as an outstanding connoisseur; it also, for the first time, looks in detail at his architectural commissions and his patronage of a wide spectrum of the arts. Dr. Vivian’s study of the prince, the first to be published for many years, covers every significant aspect of his life, including his early years in Hanover, his famously difficult relations with his parents, his own very happy marriage and family life, and his controversial involvement in British politics. Edited for publication by Roger White, this work offers a much fuller and more sympathetic picture of one of Britain’s greatest might-have-beens than has been available until now.