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1765-1837. Son of [[George III]]. King of England 1830-1837. | 1765-1837. Son of [[George III]]. King of England 1830-1837. | ||
Born at Buckingham Palace on 21 August 1765 as the third son of George III and Queen Charlotte. His oldest brother [[George IV|George]] was heir to the throne and his next brother Frederick was also available to become king. For this reason, it was considered unlikely that William would ascend the throne. | |||
[[ | At the age of 13, William was sent to become a midshipman in the Royal Navy, where he experienced a good deal of combat and did not receive any special treatment. From 1791-1811, William lived with his mistress Dorothy Jordan. The celebrated comic actress bore him 10 illegitimate children. | ||
In 1811, George III was declared insane and William’s oldest brother George was appointed prince regent. When the prince regent’s only child, Princess Charlotte, died in 1817, a dynastic crisis threatened the British monarchy because she was George III’s only grandchild and there was no other heir to the throne in the next generation. The same year, William married Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen. Adelaide became pregnant several times but none of her children survived. With the death of William’s brother Frederick (1827), William was quite unexpectedly left heir to the throne. | |||
In 1830, George IV died and William was crowned king at the age 64. His simplicity, friendliness and good nature made him initially very popular, especially after the vain and extravagant reign of his brother. However, he was often criticised for his shallow and eccentric opinions and because he frequently insulted important people. | |||
By the early 1830’s the call for electoral reform was great and the king agreed with the Whig leader Lord Grey that a reform was necessary. William decisively intervened when the conservative House of Lords rejected the [[First Reform Bill|Reform Bill]]. | |||
On 20 June 1837 William IV died. With his passing the long and extended Georgian era ended and William’s niece [[Victoria]], who had turned 18 one month before his death, succeeded him to the throne. | |||
'''Sources:''' | |||
BBC. Historic Figures: William IV. 2010 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/william_iv.shtml>. | |||
Erickson, Carolly. ''Brief Lives of the English Monarchs''. London: St Martin’s Press, 2003. | |||
The official website of the British Monarchy. William IV. 2009 <http://www.royal.gov.uk/HistoryoftheMonarchy/KingsandQueensoftheUnitedKingdom/TheHanoverians/WilliamIV.aspx>. | |||
Latest revision as of 10:54, 18 April 2019
1765-1837. Son of George III. King of England 1830-1837.
Born at Buckingham Palace on 21 August 1765 as the third son of George III and Queen Charlotte. His oldest brother George was heir to the throne and his next brother Frederick was also available to become king. For this reason, it was considered unlikely that William would ascend the throne.
At the age of 13, William was sent to become a midshipman in the Royal Navy, where he experienced a good deal of combat and did not receive any special treatment. From 1791-1811, William lived with his mistress Dorothy Jordan. The celebrated comic actress bore him 10 illegitimate children.
In 1811, George III was declared insane and William’s oldest brother George was appointed prince regent. When the prince regent’s only child, Princess Charlotte, died in 1817, a dynastic crisis threatened the British monarchy because she was George III’s only grandchild and there was no other heir to the throne in the next generation. The same year, William married Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen. Adelaide became pregnant several times but none of her children survived. With the death of William’s brother Frederick (1827), William was quite unexpectedly left heir to the throne.
In 1830, George IV died and William was crowned king at the age 64. His simplicity, friendliness and good nature made him initially very popular, especially after the vain and extravagant reign of his brother. However, he was often criticised for his shallow and eccentric opinions and because he frequently insulted important people. By the early 1830’s the call for electoral reform was great and the king agreed with the Whig leader Lord Grey that a reform was necessary. William decisively intervened when the conservative House of Lords rejected the Reform Bill.
On 20 June 1837 William IV died. With his passing the long and extended Georgian era ended and William’s niece Victoria, who had turned 18 one month before his death, succeeded him to the throne.
Sources:
BBC. Historic Figures: William IV. 2010 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/william_iv.shtml>.
Erickson, Carolly. Brief Lives of the English Monarchs. London: St Martin’s Press, 2003.
The official website of the British Monarchy. William IV. 2009 <http://www.royal.gov.uk/HistoryoftheMonarchy/KingsandQueensoftheUnitedKingdom/TheHanoverians/WilliamIV.aspx>.