![]() |
William IV from The History of the Life and Reign of William IV by Robert Huish (1837) |
William IV (21 August 1765 - 20 June 1837) was the third son of King George III and Queen Charlotte. He was made Duke of Clarence in 1789 and became King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover on the death of his brother George IV on 26 June 1830.
"The Sailor King"
Prince William Henry was born at Buckingham House on 21 August 1765, the third son of King George III and Queen Charlotte.
As the third son, he never expected to become King, and at the age of 13, he embarked on a career in the navy. On 14 June 1779, William joined HMS Prince George as a midshipman under Admiral Digby. Henry Majendie, later Bishop of Chester, was appointed William's preceptor, to instruct and supervise him while at sea.
![]() |
Prince William as a midshipman from The Life and Times of England's Patriot King by J Watkins (1831) |
![]() |
Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square, London |
As a young man, William was at times over enthusiastic and lacking in tact which led to him being given the nickname of “Silly Billy”. He was a blunt man, who had a tendency to use strong language, but his friendly manner made him popular with the public.
Dorothea Jordan
![]() |
Dora Jordan etched by GMeunier from Romney from Mrs Jordan by James Boaden (1800) |
![]() |
Bushy Park from The History of the Life and Reign of William IV by Robert Huish (1837) |
![]() |
Queen Adelaide from The History of the Life and Reign of William IV by Robert Huish (1837) |
Clarence House
Clarence House, London |
The reign of William IV (1830-1837)
William had not expected to inherit the throne, but both his older brothers died before him without legitimate, living issue. Princess Charlotte, George IV’s only child, died in 1817, and then Frederick, Duke of York, died, childless, in 1827, leaving William heir to the throne.
William became King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover on 26 June 1830 at the age of 64, on the death of his brother George IV.
Frugality
William was much more frugal than his brother George IV had been and this gained him popularity; he insisted on a coronation that cost a tenth of what his brother’s had cost.
Political reform
The reign of William IV saw great political reform. The general election of 1831 led to the formation of a Whig government under Lord Grey who was committed to the extension of the franchise. Against considerable opposition in the House of Lords, the First Reform Act was passed in 1832, increasing the number of people who could vote and redistributing Parliamentary seats more equitably.
![]() |
Lord Grey from The Life and Times of England's Patriot King by J Watkins (1831) |
In 1833, after years of campaigning from William Wilberforce and others, slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire. Other laws were passed prohibiting young children from working in factories and establishing workhouses for the poor. In 1836, compulsory registration of births, marriages and deaths was introduced.
Death
William died at Windsor Castle on 20 June 1837 without surviving legitimate children. He was succeeded on the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland by his niece, Victoria, and by his brother Ernest, Duke of Cumberland, as King of Hanover.
Sources used include:
Boaden, James, Mrs Jordan (1800)
Fry, Plantagenet Somerset, The Kings & Queens of England & Scotland, (1990)
Papendiek, Mrs, Court and private life in the time of Queen Charlotte: being the journals of Mrs Papendiek assistant keeper of the wardrobe and reader to her Majesty, edited by her granddaughter, Mrs Vernon Delves Broughton (1887, London)
Watkins, John, The Life and Times of 'England's Patriot King', William the Fourth, With a brief memoir of Her Majesty, Queen Adelaide, and her Family (1831)
Watson, J. Steven, Oxford History of England: The Reign of George III 1760-1815, (1960)
Woodward, Sir Llewellyn, Oxford History of England: The Age of Reform 1815-1870, (1938)
The British Monarchy website
All photographs by Andrew Knowles - www.flickr.com/photos/dragontomato
was it William who was an active social reformer or was he passive and got to put his name on it all?
ReplyDeleteWilliam actively supported the abolitionist movement and favoured moderate reform. Earl Grey persuaded him to accept parliamentary reform in order to maintain the peace and avoid the radicals gaining a foothold. He was less personally involved in the other reforms and I think he just ratified what his ministers proposed.
DeleteIs that Napoleon's Column I spy? ;-)
ReplyDeleteI think poor Nelson would turn in his grave at the very thought!
DeleteThere is a dockyard in Portsmouth called royal William after George 1V was it fashionable for a child to be called royal william
ReplyDeleteI visited the Royal William Yard in Plymouth last year. There is a nice statue of William IV above the entrance way. I think William was always a popular name for children - not sure about royal William, though. That's not one I've heard of. It must have been nice to have a king called William after all those Georges!
Delete