Duke Franz Josef in Bavaria dead at 24

September 24, 1912 Duke Franz Josef in Bavaria, the youngest brother, of the reigning duke, and son of the late Duke Karl Theodor, has died at the age of 24. He succumbed to a "malignant inflammation of the throat" on September 23rd. Two years ago, the young duke, a member of the junior "in Bavaria" branch of the family, visited the United States. He spent forty days traveling throughout the country. He visited Newport, "as well as the principal cities from ocean to ocean," and shot big game in the Rockies.
The duke also spent time in New York City, where he stayed at the Plaza, and he was the "most-talked-about nobleman" to visit the USA since Prince Henry of Prussia. Franz did not stand on ceremony. He liked to stroll about the city without his "suite of servants." He took in boxing matches, "took a look behind the scenes in the leading Broadway comic operas." He commented as being "highly pleased" with American chorus girls. The local media hailed the duke as "the most democratic nobleman that had ever landed in New York."
Franz Josef was introduced to numerous American debuntantes, but left the country without "tales of romance." He explained that he could not marry an American "unless he chose to lose his standing in the ducal family at home