Expert: Mark Smith - 2/7/2006

Question
Greetings.

In Wikipedia I read:
The Duke of Sussex is a peerage title conferred upon Prince Augustus Frederick (1773-1843), sixth son of King George III. He was created Duke of Sussex, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Arklow in the Peerage of the United Kingdom on 25 November 1801. Since he died without legitimate issue, the title became extinct.
My question: why did he not become king on the death of his brother King William IV?

Thank you,

Simon

Answer
Hello Simon.
Sorry about last week, but my PC is working now, so here's a slightly amended answer.
Edward, Duke of Kent, William IV's next youngest brother was born in 1767, not 1771. If he had not produced a daughter Victoria the throne would not have passed to the Duke of Sussex (born 1773) but to a middle brother Ernest, Duke of Cumberland (born 1771)who did in fact did succeed as King of Hanover in 1837 as Victoria, being a woman, could not inherit the Hanoverian Crown.
Mark