William IV of the United Kingdom
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| - | '''Victorianism''' is the name given to the [[attitude]]s, [[art]], and [[culture]] of the latter two-thirds of the [[19th century]], especially with reference to [[English-speaking peoples]] and the [[British Empire]]. ''Victorianists'' are people who study Victorianism or the [[Victorian era]]. | + | '''William IV''' (William Henry; 21 August 1765 – 20 June 1837) was [[List of British monarchs|King]] of the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]] and of [[Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover]] from 26 June 1830 until his death. William, the third son of [[George III of the United Kingdom|George III]] and younger brother and successor to [[George IV of the United Kingdom|George IV]], was the last king and penultimate monarch of the [[House of Hanover]]. |
| - | The word is often specifically directed at [[Victorian morality]], [[puritanism]], and the ''Victorian Social Order''. | + | He served in the [[Royal Navy]] in his youth and was, both during his reign and afterwards, nicknamed the "Sailor King".<ref>{{cite news|title=Scots Greys|last=Staff writer|date=25 January 1831|work=[[The Times]]|page=3|quote=...they will have the additional honour of attending our "Sailor King"...|accessdate=23 April 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Will of his late Majesty William IV|last=Staff writer|date=29 June 1837|work=[[The Times]]|page=5|quote=...ever since the accession of our sailor King...|accessdate=23 April 2009}}</ref> He served in North America and the [[Caribbean]], but saw little actual fighting. Since his two older brothers died without leaving legitimate issue, he [[Hereditary monarchy|inherited the throne]] when he was 64 years old. His reign saw several reforms: the [[poor law]] was updated, [[child labour]] restricted, [[Slavery Abolition Act 1833|slavery abolished]] in nearly all the [[British Empire]], and the [[Reform Act 1832]] refashioned the British electoral system. Though William did not engage in politics as much as his brother or his father, he was the last monarch to appoint a [[Prime Minister]] contrary to the will of [[Parliament]]. Through his [[Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge|brother]], the [[Viceroy]] of Hanover, he granted that kingdom a short-lived liberal constitution. |
| - | ==Brief history== | + | At his death William had no surviving legitimate children, though he was survived by eight of the ten illegitimate children he had by the actress [[Dorothea Jordan]], with whom he cohabited for 20 years. William was succeeded in the United Kingdom by his niece, [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Victoria]], and in Hanover by his brother, [[Ernest Augustus I of Hanover|Ernest Augustus]]. |
| - | The succession of [[William IV of the United Kingdom]] by his niece [[Victoria of the United Kingdom]] on [[20 June]], [[1837]] provides a convenient marker in the [[History of Britain]] for the rise of an [[Industrial society|industrialized society]] with a newly [[urbanization|urbanized]] [[middle class]], the interconnection of the globe with [[telegraph]] and [[railway]], the expansion of [[trade]], the establishment of the [[gold standard]] and other programs meant to make orderly and regular the path of [[commerce]], [[manufacturing]] and [[economic growth]]. As a movement, the term is often synonymous with changes made to society directed at dealing with the effects of [[trade]], [[Industrial Revolution|industrialism]], and [[urbanization]], while maintaining a strongly stratified social and political order. Queen Victoria's reign ended with her death in 1901, signifying the end of the era. | + | |
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[Cultural depictions of William IV of the United Kingdom]] | ||
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Revision as of 19:36, 7 February 2011
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William IV (William Henry; 21 August 1765 – 20 June 1837) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death. William, the third son of George III and younger brother and successor to George IV, was the last king and penultimate monarch of the House of Hanover.
He served in the Royal Navy in his youth and was, both during his reign and afterwards, nicknamed the "Sailor King".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He served in North America and the Caribbean, but saw little actual fighting. Since his two older brothers died without leaving legitimate issue, he inherited the throne when he was 64 years old. His reign saw several reforms: the poor law was updated, child labour restricted, slavery abolished in nearly all the British Empire, and the Reform Act 1832 refashioned the British electoral system. Though William did not engage in politics as much as his brother or his father, he was the last monarch to appoint a Prime Minister contrary to the will of Parliament. Through his brother, the Viceroy of Hanover, he granted that kingdom a short-lived liberal constitution.
At his death William had no surviving legitimate children, though he was survived by eight of the ten illegitimate children he had by the actress Dorothea Jordan, with whom he cohabited for 20 years. William was succeeded in the United Kingdom by his niece, Victoria, and in Hanover by his brother, Ernest Augustus.
See also
