Duke Ernest Gottlob Albert of Mecklenburg was a member of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Background
As a younger son of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg, Ernest was an elder brother of Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom, who married King George III in 1761. Ernest Gottlob Albert was the seventh child and third son of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg and his wife Princess Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen.
Career
Enormous debt would later lead Ernest to attempt another marriage with a princess from the House of Holstein-Gottorp, but Charlotte managed to dissuade him. Ernest"s younger sister Charlotte married George III of the United Kingdom in 1761, and Ernest followed her to London. Ernest was described by novelist Sarah Scott as a "very pretty sort of man, with an agreeable person." In March 1762 Ernest was said, according to Scott, to have "fallen desperately in love with" Mary Eleanor Bowes, the richest heiress in Britain and possibly the richest in Europe.
However, King George III disallowed the marriage, as he disapproved of his brother-in-law marrying someone not of royal blood.
Charlotte Papendiek, Queen Charlotte"s wardrobe keeper, wrote many years later that the match would "have made him a Prince indeed. But as he was a younger brother, it might have disturbed the harmony of the house of Mecklenburg-Strelitz." Ernest does not appear in Mary"s letters, and it does not seem likely that his affection was reciprocated.
Charlotte remained close to all of her German relatives while married. In 1782 Ernest attempted to enter into a marriage with a princess from the House of Holstein-Gottorp in an effort to pay his numerous debts.
He died on 27 January 1814 at the age of 71.
Titles and styles 27 August 1742 – 27 January 1814: His Serene Highness Duke Ernest of Mecklenburg Honours.
Membership
She hoped that Christian VII of Denmark would provide a large dowry, as the princess was a member of his house, but concluded that no one would blame Ernest if he stopped pursuing the marriage.