(1819–61)
the husband (and also cousin) of Queen Victoria . The son of a German duke , Albert married Victoria in 1840, and in 1857 he was given the title of Prince Consort . He took great interest in the arts, as well as business, science and technology, and was a strong influence behind the Great Exhibition of 1851. Albert died suddenly when he was only 42, and the Queen wore black clothes for the next 40 years as a sign of her great sadness.