Born in Drottningholm Palace in Ekerö, Stockholm County, his eldest sibling was King Carl XV of Sweden.

On 10 December 1851, he was made an honorary member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

On 16 April 1864 in Altenburg, the Duke married Princess Therese Amalie of Saxe-Altenburg (Ansbach, 21 December 1836 - Haga Palace, Stockholm, 9 November 1914),[1] Duchess of Saxony,[1] eldest daughter of Prince Eduard of Saxe-Altenburg and his first wife Princess Amalie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.

Since it was commonly thought the Prince was not very bright, this led to the expression "dummare än tåget" (lit.

[2] Prince August died at the age of 41 of pneumonia at Stockholm Palace.