Lord Augustus FitzClarence

Lord Augustus FitzClarence was born on 1 March 1805. He was the youngest illegitimate son of William IV of the United Kingdom and his longtime mistress, Dorothea Jordan. Following the separation of his parents in 1811, he and his siblings had limited contact with their mother.

In 1829, Augustus was appointed a Chaplain to his father, who was then the Duke of Clarence and St Andrews. Later that year, he was presented with the vicarage of Mapledurham in Oxfordshire, succeeding John Sumner, who later became Bishop of Chester and Archbishop of Canterbury. His father, William IV, was known for his generous support of the church and the local community; among his benefactions were the clock in the church tower bearing the initials ″W R.″, contributions to enlarge the vicarage residence, and the enclosure of the grounds and foundation of a village school. Augustus contributed a collection of silver gilt communion plates to the church shortly after his appointment, which was likely a gift from his father.

In 1830, Augustus was appointed as a Chaplain in ordinary to King William IV, and following his father’s ascension to the throne in 1830, he was granted the rank of a marquess' younger son on 24 May 1831. After completing his studies at Trinity College, Cambridge, he received the degrees of LL.B. on 2 June 1832 and LL.D. on 6 July 1835. Subsequently, he was appointed as Chaplain to Queen Adelaide.

On 2 January 1845, Augustus married Sarah Elizabeth Catharine Gordon, daughter of Major Lord Henry Gordon, a younger brother of Charles Gordon, 10th Marquess of Huntly. Sarah’s mother was Louisa Payne. Together, they had six children:

- Dorothea FitzClarence (1845–1870), who married Thomas William Goff, MP for Roscommon, and had children.

- Eva FitzClarence (1847–1918).

- Beatrice FitzClarence (1847–1909), a twin with Eva.

- Augustus FitzClarence (1849–1861), who died young.

- Henry Edward FitzClarence (1853–1930), who married Mary Isabel Templer Parsons and had children.

- Mary FitzClarence (1854–1858), born posthumously, who died in infancy.

Lord Augustus FitzClarence died on 14 June 1854. He was buried at St Margaret's Church in Mapledurham. His widow, Sarah Elizabeth Catharine Gordon, lived until 23 March 1901.