Biography of Queen Alexandra

Queen Alexandra (December 1, 1844 – November 20, 1925) was the longest-serving Princess of Wales in British history. She was the wife of King Edward VII, the successor to Queen Victoria. Although her public duties were limited, Alexandra became a style icon and did significant charity work in her lifetime. Fast Facts: Queen Alexandra Full Name:  Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise JuliaOccupation: Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of IndiaBorn: December 1, 1844 in Copenhagen, DenmarkParents: Christian IX of Denmark and his consort, Louise of Hesse-KasselDied: November 20, 1925 in Norfolk, EnglandKnown For: Born a princess of Denmark; married Queen Victorias son and heir; as queen, held little political power but was influential in fashion and charity workSpouse: King Edward VII (m. 1863-1910)Children: Prince Albert Victor; Prince George (later King George V); Louise, Princess Royal; Princess Victoria, Princess Maud (later Queen Maud of Norway); Prince Alexander John Princess of Denmark Born Princess Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia of Denmark, Alexandra was known to her family as â€Å"Alix.† She was born at the Yellow Palace in Copenhagen on December 1, 1844. Her parents were minor royalty: Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glà ¼cksburg and Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel. Although they were members of the Danish royal family, Alexandras family lived a comparatively low-key life. Her father Christian’s income came only from his army commission. Alexandra had several siblings, but was closest to her sister Dagmar (who would later become Maria Feodorovna, Empress of Russia). Their family was close with Hans Christian Andersen, who occasionally visited to tell the children stories. The Danish royal family became more complicated in 1848, when King Christian VIII died and his son, Frederick, became king. Frederick was childless, and because he ruled both Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein, which had differing succession laws, a crisis arose. The ultimate outcome was that Alexandra’s father became the heir to Frederick in both regions. This change elevated Alexandra’s status, as she became the daughter of a future king. However, the family remained outside of court life, partially due to their disapproval of Frederick. Princess of Wales Alexandra was not Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s first choice to marry their son, Prince Albert Edward. Nevertheless, Alexandra was introduced to the Prince of Wales by his sister, Princess Victoria, in 1861. After a courtship, Edward proposed in September of 1862, and the couple were married on March 10, 1863 at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The wedding was a less festive occasion than many had hoped for, since the court was still in mourning for Prince Albert, who had died in December 1861. Alexandra gave birth to their first child, Prince Albert Victor, in 1864. The couple would go on to have a total of six children (including one who died at birth). Alexandra preferred to be a hands-on mother, but she also continued to enjoy her social life, carrying on hobbies such as hunting and ice skating. The couple were the center of society, bringing a youthful fun to a court long-dominated by a strict (and now mourning) queen. Even after rheumatic fever left her with a permanent limp, Alexandra was noted for being a charming and cheerful woman. Although most accounts seem to show that Edward and Alexandra had a fairly happy marriage, Edwards affection for his wife did not stop the prince from continuing his infamous playboy ways. He carried on several affairs throughout their marriage, both flings and long-term extramarital relationships, while Alexandra remained faithful. She became increasingly isolated, due to a hereditary condition that caused her to slowly lose hearing. Edward ran in scandalous circles and was very nearly implicated in at least one divorce hearing. As Princess of Wales, Alexandra performed many public duties, taking on the burden of some of her mother-in-law Victoria’s public appearances such as opening ceremonies, attending concerts, visiting hospitals, and otherwise conducting charity works. She was a popular young addition to the monarchy and was almost universally liked by the British public. In the early 1890s, Alexandra and her family suffered multiple losses that would also change the course of two monarchies. Prince Albert Victor, her eldest son, died in 1892 at the age of 28 after falling ill during a flu pandemic. His death devastated Alexandra. Albert Victors younger brother, George, became the heir and even married Albert Victor’s former fiancà ©e, Mary of Teck; it is from this line that the current British monarchy descends. Alexandra’s sister Dagmar also suffered a major loss in 1894: her husband, the Russian Tsar Alexander III, died. Dagmars son took the throne as Nicholas II. He would be the last tsar of Russia. Queen At Last Edward was the longest-serving Prince of Wales in history during his lifetime. (He was surpassed by his descendant Prince Charles in 2017.) However, he finally ascended to the throne upon Queen Victoria’s death in 1901. By this time, Edward’s taste for excess was catching up to him and his health, so Alexandra had to appear in his place for a few events. This was the only time that Alexandra was permitted to be involved in matters of importance. She held political opinions (for example, she was wary of German expansion from the beginning) but was ignored when she expressed them in both public and private. Ironically, her distrust proved prescient: she urged against the British and Germans â€Å"swapping† dominion over a pair of islands, which the Germans ended up using as a fortified stronghold during the world wars. Edward and his ministers went so far as to exclude her from trips abroad and forbid her to read briefing papers so that she would not try to exert any influence. Instead, she poured her efforts into charity work. On one occasion, however, Alexandra broke protocol and appeared publicly in a political context. In 1910, she became the first queen consort to visit the House of Commons and watch a debate. She would not be queen consort for long, though. Only a few months later, she was on a trip to Greece, visiting her brother, King George I, when she received word that Edward was seriously ill. Alexandra made it back in time to say goodbye to Edward, who died on May 6, 1910 after a bout of bronchitis and a series of heart attacks. Their son became King George V. Later Years and Legacy As the queen mother, Alexandra mostly continued her duties as she had as queen consort, focusing her efforts on charity work with a side of anti-German cajoling. Her generosity was renowned, as she willingly sent money to anyone who wrote to her asking for help. She lived to see her fears about the Germans realized with the outbreak of World War I, and rejoiced when her son changed the royal family’s name to Windsor to avoid German associations. Alexandra suffered another personal loss when her nephew, Nicholas II, was overthrown during the Russian Revolution. Her sister Dagmar was rescued and came to stay with Alexandra, but her son George V refused to offer asylum to Nicholas and his immediate family; they were murdered in 1917 by the Bolshevik revolutionaries. In the last years of her life, Alexandra’s health declined, and she died from a heart attack on November 20, 1925. She was buried at Windsor Castle next to Edward. A popular royal in life and death, Alexandra was mourned deeply by the British public, and she became the namesake for everything from palaces to ships to streets. Although she was not permitted any political influence, she was a style icon for the women of her time and defined an entire era of fashion. Her legacy was not one of politics, but of personal popularity and boundless generosity. Sources Battiscombe, Georgina. Queen Alexandra. Constable, 1969.Duff, David. Alexandra: Princess and Queen. Wm Collins Sons Co, 1980.â€Å"Edward VII.† BBC, http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/edward_vii_king.shtml.

The Battle Of Gettysburg Why Was It A Turning Point

The Battle of Gettysburg: Why Was It a Turning Point? War is truly like hell. There is no doubt that any war is an evil one. It is the greatest catastrophe that can befall human beings. It brings death and destruction, merciless slaughter and butchery, disease, starvation and poverty in its wake. Though war brings all kinds of trouble, sometimes it can save a country. In 1861 a Civil War broke out in America. It started because of uncompromising differences between the free and slave states over the power of the national government to prohibit slavery in the territories that had not yet become states. The South then promptly seceded, and formed a new nation, the Confederate States of America. In the late spring of 1863, the Civil War was into its third year. Confederate General Robert E. Lee had just defeated a Union force twice its size. After a few months, Lee’s army was crossing the Potomac River about eighty miles northwest of Washington D.C. and was marching into southern Pennsylvania. The North was being invaded. Though every battle was important, the most significant one was the battle of Gettysburg. When the Union defeated the Confederacy in the battle of Gettysburg, it gave the Union a greater chance of winning the Civil War because it made the Confederates fear the Union. The Confederacy no longer attacked the Union in Northern territory, and the North now had more chances of reuniting the states that were once together. The battle of Gettysburg was a turningShow MoreRelatedThe Battle Of Gettysburg : Why Was It A Turning Point?1361 Words   |  6 PagesThe Battle of Gettysburg: Why Was It a Turning Point? â€Å"Death created the modern American union, not just by ensuring national survival, but by shaping enduring national structures and commitments. The work of death was Civil War America s most fundamental and most demanding undertaking†Ã¢â‚¬â€ Drew Gilpin Faust. Death in the Civil War was indeed a principle in creating the America we know and love today. This was the bloodiest war in United States military history. Within the war was the Battle of GettysburgRead MoreWhy Was the Battle of Gettysburg a Turning Point? Essay example729 Words   |  3 PagesWhy was the Battle of Gettysburg a Turning Point? (May 8, 2013 What comes to mind when you hear the words â€Å"The Battle of Gettysburg†? To me, I think of the event itself. The United States was two years into the Civil War, when the bloody battle in Pennsylvania broke out. General Lee, also known as the general of the Confederate army, plotted an attack at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle started on July 1st, 1863 and continued on for 3 straight days. 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Just before the Battle of Gettysburg, Colonel Lawrence Chamberlain of the 20th Maine gave a speech to a group of mutineers. He told them that the war in which they were fighting was unlike any war in history. The war in which they were fighting was not for money, property or power. It was a war to set otherRead MoreThe Battle of Gettysburg1676 Words   |  7 PagesThe Battle of Gettysburg was one of the most famous battles of the Civil War. The battle was fought from July 1 to July 3 near Gettysburg. The famous battle was between Robert Lee and his Northern Virginia Army and George Meade and the Norths Army of the Potomac, The Union. The original leader of the Army of the Potomac was General Joseph Hooker, but President Lincoln relieved Hooker of his duties and named Meade the new General of the Army. Many soldiers died from both sides during this battle and

My Son My Executioner Poetry Explication Essay Example For Students

My Son My Executioner: Poetry Explication Essay We twenty two and twenty five, who seemed to live forever, observe enduring life in you and start to die together In My Son, My Executioner, Donald Hall uses connotative meaning, Imagery and figures of speech to create the overall contrasting metaphors of this poem to express he sentiments and feelings every new parents experience. The two poetic devices Hall makes the most use of would have to be Imagery and metaphoric figurative language. By using tactile, organic, visual and auditory Imagery; the speaker Implants a Blvd image of a father and sons first moments and feelings as his baby Is Just astir. In the first verse he sets up the visual/adulatory scene of a new baby quiet small and Just astir. The combination of the tactile sensation when the author says l take you In my arms with the organic feel of life and love when he says and whom y body warm; not only creates strong sensory Imagery but also hold a lot of metaphoric meaning. Hall uses a variety tot figures tot speech to tell a beautiful emotional story In only three versus. Metaphoric and personification were the two most prevalent figures tot speech. The presents an executioner as a metaphor tort his son in the first line tot verse one. He also uses two metaphoric contrast when he compares his son to s death yet also our instrument of immortality in the beginning of line verse two. Sweet death is a metaphoric representation of how the child signifies the ending death of their old life as they knew it. Hall amplifies this metaphor when he say your cries and hunger document/ our bodily decay. showing that he is now thee main focus and his needs and growth document their new life of caring for him. Erase gives the metaphor all parents can relate to, about the end of ones own sell life and the beginning of a selfless one; being the sweet death. In contrast, the b also metaphorically represents our instrument of immortality beck he will carry on their name and memory. So he represents the sweet death of the old life but also of themselves now growing old, while also representing how he ensures their immortality. The speaker personif ies death when he says Oh sweet death, my son and uses apostrophe to speak to the boy and death as though the hear/understand. In order to paint the metaphoric picture and set the scene of him and his en born son, the speaker uses both denotative and connotative language. The speak starts out using both denotative and connotative language but uses denotative language to set the scene. He talks denotative about his son quiet and small a just astir to paint the picture of the innocent life of a new born baby. Also in verse en he uses connotative language in the first line when he says my son, my executioner. He is using denotation because he his actually talking about his son connotation because his son is not an executioner. My executioner has the double meaning of representing the way in which the boy is in a sense the executioner o life as he knew it. He then uses connotation in verse two mentioning sweet dead explain that this death is a good one. All throughout the poem the speaker makes of both denotative and connotative language; denotative to set up the scene and imagery and connotative to express the beautiful double sentiment to this short poem.

Western Casualty Case analysis

Problem Identification The major problem in this case is that the recovery attained by the company (presently $55 million) should be equal to the total casual activity recovery in the market (presently $550-$600 million).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Western Casualty Case analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This includes 20,000 unresolved recovery cases with values averaging $7500 each; this meant that Western Casualty was behind in its recovery process and that it was supposed to increase its speed in order to hit the target. There was also a concern of Casualty’s legal department and lawyers about bring MCG onboard. In the beginning of the contracting phase, MCG planned to remain onsite for 18 months, to see more on organization culture and know day-to-day operations. Beginning the restructuring, the consultant selected the method of collaborate role with the clients. Collaborative relationship promises maximum people resources – both the consultants and the clients. They stated cleared that the consultants are not there for helping downsizing of OPL but they are helping to apply their technical skill to make it more productive in the future. Discovery phase begins; they started of layer of analysis on initial problem They found fear of employees over workload in the capacity of current workforce and downsizing of OPL. There is no benchmarking in the department. This reduces the morale that would have otherwise. Employees felt that they had to do everything and they don’t have time to do anything well. Identify the Causes of the Problem Western Casualty specialized in processing of casualty and properties. Western Casualty was in the early 1980’s the dominant company in the western region. By early 1990’s casualty’s market share dropped significantly to below 20% from above 65%. This was as national property/ casualty insurers threatened to take over. Perhaps the greatest test for western casualty was during the catastrophe that rocked California which rendered business in the state unattainable to most of the insurance companies. However, western casualty viewed this as an opportunity to advance itself in the market by being more aggressive and taking over the market in a bid to increase revenue and therefore widen the profit margin. This sat well for the company as it was viewed as the remaining reliable insurance company in the region. However that was until national property/ casualty insurers came into the picture and technological advancement or lack of it almost brought western casualty to its knees. The early 1990’s was characterized with technological development and sprouting of insurance companies.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Western casualty didn’t embrace technology in processi ng of claims as fast as its competitors had. During this paradigm shift, western casualty sat comfortably without interest in the developing means. This was until the figures began dwindling prompting a restructuring program. Alternative Solutions An alternative solution is important in the ensuring of a well analyzed case. For this, the department will need to be divided. Four task-base teams: Negotiation, Telephone, Written Correspondence and Recovery. Employees will no longer be doing dozen of things; they will focus on certain parts of the process an idea which leads to specialization and development of acute skills in the respective area in which the employee is responsible for. The employee tends to be faster and more effective at their responsibilities. They can then focus more time on each department: the more time focused on the department is got from the specialized activity on the departments activities. More time to improve managerial skills. The employees are left with more time to work on their managerial skills. These managerial skills are essential in helping the employees to hold themselves responsible and do all in their powers to getting things done. Developing skills â€Å"Think outside the box.† The employees are left to do whatever they have to in helping the department achieve its goals. This in turn horns the employees skills in such a manner that they tend to be responsible in their own respective areas and develop a sense of ownership of the company. The MCG shifted away for their individual functions to the department’s ultimate objectives as a team. The pre-organization structure meant that one would follow the same case until it ends while the new structured required the employees to only focus on particular parts of the whole process. This meant that employees could no longer be gauged by the number of cases they solved but rather by the achievement of the departmental overall goals. Foster projects by newsletter, so cial events and others that motivate within human capital. This is to motivate both the clients and the employees making their work easier.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Western Casualty Case analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Technology, the embracement of technology meant faster and more efficient means and ways of achieving departmental goals. Having technology ensures that time is on your side and efficiency too. Best Alternative Communication strategy within organization, the organization’s communication with its clients should be improved and should enable convenience in communication. Clients should not feel as though reaching the company to process claims is more difficult than getting them to compensate you in case of a claim of any other consultations. The telephone and the written units were not very impressed with their new responsibilities in the company. They felt as though the comp any had reduced their responsibilities and hence their morale for the jobs. Those in the telephone unit preferred the older structure where they were to follow a single case to the point where they could determine or get to know the progress of the cases they were handling. This is contrary to the new structure where they just handle phone calls for all the cases without knowing the eventuality of any of the cases. The employees in the two units also felt that their departments tend to receive more problems than other units in the organization. The management and the consultants should emphasize that however much personal pride and accomplishment are important; they should not be put before the departments’ goals. The employees should be reminded of the department’s goals and that the same should form their primary objective in the company’s activities. However, employees’ views on how this could be changed to make it better should be welcomed. Implementa tion Steps Four task-base teams: Negotiation, Telephone, Written Correspondence and Recovery. The restructuring of the department ensures that time is saved as employees of the different departments concentrate on specific aspects of the whole process. Selecting team leaders responsible for the different units and ensuring that the teams adhere to the set departmental goals.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Improvement of the communication between departments and between the employees and their supervisors improves the effectiveness of the employees. They tend to have similar agendas and goals that are propagated by the department heads thus ensuring a common goal. This essay on Western Casualty Case analysis was written and submitted by user Mall0ry to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.