William IV

Born on August 21, 1765, at Buckingham House, William Henry was the third son of King George III and Queen Charlotte. As the third son, he was not expected to inherit the throne, which allowed him to pursue a career in the Royal Navy. He joined as a midshipman at age thirteen and served under Admiral Robert Digby.

His naval service was extensive and included time in British North America and the Caribbean. During the American War of Independence, he became the only member of the British royal family to visit America during the revolution. George Washington even approved a plot to kidnap him, though it was never carried out. William’s service was marked by a genuine desire to learn the trade; he was known to perform tasks alongside his shipmates and formed a lifelong friendship with his lieutenant, Richard Goodwin Keats.

He served under Horatio Nelson in the West Indies, who noted William's professional competence and respect for naval discipline. His time at sea earned him the enduring nickname the Sailor King, and he later served as the Lord High Admiral, where he advocated for the modernization of the fleet, including the commissioning of the first steam-powered warship.

Before his marriage, William lived for twenty years with the Irish actress Dorothea Bland, known professionally as Mrs. Jordan. Their relationship was domestic and stable, and they had ten children together, all given the surname FitzClarence. William was known to enjoy the family life they created at Bushy House, which he was granted as the Ranger of Bushy Park.

However, the relationship ended in 1811 due to financial pressures. Following the death of his niece, Princess Charlotte, in 1817, the royal family faced a succession crisis, as none of George III’s sons had legitimate heirs. William, being the healthiest of the brothers, was pressured to marry.

In 1818, he married Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen. The marriage was a turning point for William; Adelaide helped him manage his finances and pay off his significant debts. The couple remained happily married until his death in 1837.

Although they had two daughters who died in infancy, the marriage brought stability to William’s life, and he became a more disciplined and focused individual, eventually adopting a frugal lifestyle that included regular exercise and a diet of barley water.

William ascended to the throne on June 26, 1830, following the death of his brother, George IV. At 64, he was the oldest person to become the British monarch at that time. His reign was a stark contrast to his predecessor’s.

While George IV was known for his extravagance and reclusive nature, William was unassuming and approachable. He often walked through London unaccompanied and discouraged the excessive pomp that had characterized the previous reign. His approach to governance was also highly efficient; the Duke of Wellington noted that William could accomplish more business in ten minutes than his brother could in ten days.

William was a conscientious worker who asked thoughtful questions to understand the issues at hand. He famously attempted to give away Buckingham Palace, which was undergoing expensive renovations, and replaced his brother’s French chefs and German band with English ones to better align with the public’s expectations. His informality was a hallmark of his early reign, and he was initially very popular with the British people.

The reign of William IV was a period of significant legislative and social reform. The most notable achievement was the Reform Act of 1832, which fundamentally reshaped the British electoral system. Despite his own lack of deep political partisanship, William navigated the intense political climate of the time, even becoming the last British monarch to appoint a prime minister against the will of Parliament.

His reign also saw the passage of the Poor Law, which updated the system of social support, and the restriction of child labor in factories. Perhaps most significantly, slavery was abolished in nearly all of the British Empire during his time on the throne. While William had previously spoken against the abolition of slavery during his time in the House of Lords, he presided over the government as it implemented these major changes.

His reign also saw him grant a short-lived liberal constitution to his kingdom of Hanover, demonstrating a willingness to engage with the changing political landscape of the 19th century.

William IV died on June 20, 1837, at the age of 71. Because he had no surviving legitimate children, the British throne passed to his niece, Victoria, who would go on to have a long and influential reign. The succession also marked the end of the 123-year personal union between the United Kingdom and Hanover, as the laws of Hanover did not allow a woman to inherit the throne, meaning his brother Ernest Augustus became the King of Hanover instead.

William’s legacy is that of a transitional monarch who helped modernize the role of the king. By moving away from the excesses of the past and embracing a more modest, hardworking approach, he helped maintain the popularity of the monarchy during a time of great social change. His naval background and his willingness to accept the advice of his ministers and Parliament helped set a tone for the constitutional monarchy that would follow.

As of October 2026, historians continue to view his reign as a critical period that bridged the gap between the 18th-century royal traditions and the modern era of the British monarchy.