Ward's Book of Days.

Pages of interesting anniversaries.

What happened on this day in history.

MARCH 24th

On this day in history in 1751, died Frederick, Prince of Wales

Frederick was the eldest son of George II and heir to the throne, but apart from that, he was not particularly remarkable for anything. One commentator astutely gave him the following epithet:--

‘Here lies Fred
Who was alive and is dead.
There is no more to be said.’ 

Frederick was, however, noteworthy for the unusual manner of his death. He died of septicaemic poisoning after being hit on the head by a cricket ball. A classic case of play stopped reign!

Other unusual royal deaths

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