--- title: William IV of Great Britain author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/William_IV_of_Great_Britain/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2023-01-27 --- # William IV of Great Britain _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ William IV of Great [Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Britain/) (r. 1830-1837) succeeded his elder brother [George IV of Great Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/George_IV_of_Great_Britain/) (r. 1820-1830) to become the fifth Hanoverian monarch. William had a successful naval career, and his reign is best remembered for the democratic reforms initiated by the 1832 Reform Act. He was succeeded by his niece, [Queen Victoria](https://www.worldhistory.org/Queen_Victoria/) of Great Britain (r. 1837-1901). ### The House of Hanover The royal house of Hanover had taken over the British throne in 1714 following the [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) of Queen Anne of Great Britain (r. 1702-1714), who had no children. The Hanoverians were also electors of Hanover, a small principality in Germany, and so both [George I of Great Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/George_I_of_Great_Britain/) (r. 1714-1727) and [George II of Great Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/George_II_of_Great_Britain/) (r. 1727-1760) were very much Germans ruling in Britain. George III was the first Hanoverian to be born in Britain and to speak English as his first language, and he was, consequently, more popular with his subjects. The next king, George IV, was much less popular because of his poor treatment of his wife Caroline of Brunswick-Wolferbüttel (d. 1821) and his incessant overspending. ### Early Life & Family William was born on 21 August 1765 at Buckingham [Palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/). His father was George III, and his mother was Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1848). He had many siblings, amongst them his elder brother George, born in 1762, and another elder brother, Frederick (b. 1763). Third in line to the throne and so unlikely to ever find himself sat upon it, William, at the behest of his father, joined the Royal Navy in 1778 when he was still just 13 years of age. William joined as a lowly midshipman and did well, reaching the rank of Rear-Admiral by the age of 24 and becoming friends with [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/)'s great naval hero Horatio Nelson (1758-1805). William gained his first command in 1786, *[Pegasus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pegasus/)*. In 1789, he was made the Duke of Clarence, and by 1790, he no longer had to serve at sea. His naval career was not over, though, since, in 1811, he was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet. In 1827, he reached the very top when he was given the largely political appointment of Lord High Admiral, the figurehead of the Royal Navy. Unfortunately, the tough-talking sailor made a pig's ear of the diplomacy and political machinations his new post required, and he was obliged to resign after a year. [ ![Royal House of Hanover in Britain Family Tree](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/16921.png?v=1779088267-1764312022) Royal House of Hanover in Britain Family Tree Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-ND) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16921/royal-house-of-hanover-in-britain-family-tree/ "Royal House of Hanover in Britain Family Tree")On 11 July 1818, William married Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen (1792-1849), 27 years his junior and daughter of the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. The couple had two daughters, but both of these died in infancy. William had ten illegitimate children with his long-term mistress, the comic actress Dorothy [Jordan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Jordan/). The couple's children carried the surname FitzClarence. Prince George, meanwhile, had become regent for his mad father in 1811 and king in his own right in 1820 as George IV. The king had had one legitimate child, a daughter, but she died in childbirth in 1817. Consequently, when George IV died of a ruptured blood vessel on 26 June 1830, the next in line was William since his elder brother Frederick, Duke of York had died three years before. At 66 years old, the Duke of Clarence became William IV of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and [Ireland](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Ireland/). He also inherited the family title of King of Hanover. William's coronation ceremony was held on 8 September 1831 in Westminster Abbey, and it was deliberately less extravagant than the previous coronation to try and win over the public who had become rather tired of watching royal overspending. This reduction in pomp was so evident, William's ceremony gained the nickname of the "half-crownnation" after the small half-crown [coin](https://www.worldhistory.org/coinage/). William was more popular than his big-spending predecessor, who had further alienated himself from his subjects by banishing his wife from his presence and refusing to allow her at his coronation. The new king, who liked neither party politics nor the arts, was another colourful addition to the House of Hanover, as here described by R. Cavendish: > Those close to William thought him crotchety, irascible and obstinate. He had a head shaped like a coconut and he had been unkindly nicknamed 'Silly Billy' ... He was considered a character – a bluff, patriotic jack tar who spoke his mind, disliked ceremony and fuss, and detested foreigners, especially the French. > (392) The king looked striking with his unusual hairstyle of a large quiff, and he was a bit of a chatter-box with "a tendency to talk at length and at some distance from the point" (Starkey, 451). William was certainly popular with those around the royal residences. He had the habit of walking around London and Brighton rather than being closed in within a carriage. On his birthday in 1830, the king held an outdoor lunch for 3,000 poor people who were served such treats as veal and plum pudding. William also gave the public access to the Great Park of Windsor. [ ![William IV in Order of the Garter Robes](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/16939.png?v=1779088270-1674656489) William IV in Order of the Garter Robes Martin Archer Shee (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16939/william-iv-in-order-of-the-garter-robes/ "William IV in Order of the Garter Robes")### Political Reforms William's reign was short, but it witnessed important and far-reaching developments in the democratic system and society. There was the abolition of slavery across (most of) the British [Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/) from 1833, the culmination of a long process of legislation to limit slavery. The territories of the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) in [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/) and elsewhere were exempt, and slave owners elsewhere were compensated financially. Another important improvement in society was the prohibition of child labour in factories. Finally, the 1832 Reform Act was passed, a real milestone in electoral legislation. The Reform Act swept away the rotten boroughs, those areas where a Member of Parliament could win a seat by simply paying for votes, such was their low electorate. Reflecting changes in British society and industry, the Reform Act also gave political representation to the new and booming manufacturing centres like Birmingham and Manchester, which, incredibly, had had no representation at all while tiny rural constituencies sometimes had not one but two MPs. Wealthier middle-class men could now run for election to Parliament as the power of the great landowners dwindled. At last, the electoral system was beginning to reflect the population and social changes in Britain of the last two centuries. William was instrumental in getting the Reform Bill passed into [law](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/law/) as an Act of Parliament. First, in order to relieve the political impasse between the two main parties of Whigs and Tories (the latter opposed the reforms) in the House of Commons, he dissolved Parliament, which brought about a new general election and a larger Whig majority. This got the bill through the lower chamber, but Parliament's upper chamber, the House of Lords, remained dead against any reforms. The then prime minister Earl Grey (1764-1845) asked the king to create (or, as it turned out, only threaten to create) a number of new peers sympathetic to the reforms and so allow it to pass the scrutiny of the Lords. The king had been reluctant to promise such a thing, but he realised it was the only way to pass the bill. To his credit, William noted that, allowed to choose for himself, he would have refused the request but "as a sovereign it was his duty to set those feelings and prejudices aside" (Cannon, 336). The political manoeuvring may have brought valuable and necessary reforms, but the way they were achieved had set a dangerous precedent where a monarch's liberty to select peers could be heavily influenced by prime ministers for short-term political expedience. It was yet another case of Parliament nibbling away at royal power, a trend that had already become the constitutional legacy of the Hanoverians. [ ![The Burning of Parliament by Turner](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/16948.png?v=1779088274-1674725814) The Burning of Parliament by Turner J.W.M.Turner (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16948/the-burning-of-parliament-by-turner/ "The Burning of Parliament by Turner")### Parliament Destroyed There was one notable disaster during William's reign. A great fire, caused by an overheated stove, destroyed the Houses of Parliament on 16 October 1834. This catastrophe was, at least, an opportunity to build a grander home for the nation's government – the old building had been compared to a ramshackle coffee house by several visiting foreign rulers. The celebrated artist J. M. W. Turner (1775-1851) captured the building in flames in two famous paintings, now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Cleveland Museum of Art. The king, still preferring his old residence Clarence House to the ostentatious vastness of Buckingham Palace, offered the latter to the politicians while their parliament was rebuilt (they refused). In many ways, the fire and necessary physical renewal of Parliament reflected the sweeping electoral reforms for which William's reign would be best remembered. The British monarchy was about to undergo a major renewal, too, as the Hanoverian kings gave way to a young girl who would become the longest-serving British monarch the country had yet seen. ### Death & Successor William IV died of cirrhosis of the liver and pneumonia on 20 June 1837 at [Windsor Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Windsor_Castle/). He was buried in St. George's Chapel, Windsor. The king, without any legitimate children of his own, was succeeded by his niece Queen Victoria, daughter of George III's late son, Edward, Duke of Kent (1766-1820). The king had got on well with his niece and heir, even if he could not abide her mother Marie Louise Victoria, Duchess of Kent. The king had been determined, despite his ailing health, to live long enough for Victoria to reach maturity so that her mother could not promote herself as regent. William achieved his goal but only just. Victoria reached 18 just one month before the old king died. The succession of Victoria finally split Hanover from the British throne as no female was permitted to rule the German principality if there was a male heir, no matter how remote. Accordingly, George III's fifth son Ernest [Augustus](https://www.worldhistory.org/augustus/), Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale (1771-1851), became the new King of Hanover, where he permanently resided. Victoria was the last of the British Hanoverians as her children were classed as part of the new dynasty of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha (which was later renamed Windsor), her husband, Prince Albert's family. #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [Cannon, John & Hargreaves, Anne. *The Kings and Queens of Britain .* Oxford University Press, 2009.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199559228/) - [Cavendish, Richard. *Kings & Queens.* David & Charles, 2007.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0715323768/) - [Lewis, Brenda Ralph. *Dark History of the Kings & Queens of England.* Sterling Publishing, 2015.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1782743189/) - [Phillips, Charles. *The Complete Illustrated Guide to the Kings & Queens of Britain.* Lorenz Books, 2006.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0754816281/) - [Starkey, David. *Crown and Country.* HarperPress, 2010.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B004BDOTKO/) ## About the Author Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. ## Timeline - **21 Aug 1765 CE**: Prince William, future [William IV of Great Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_IV_of_Great_Britain/), is born in Buckingham [Palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/). - **1778 CE**: Prince William, future [William IV of Great Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_IV_of_Great_Britain/), joins the Royal Navy. - **1789 CE**: Prince William, future [William IV of Great Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_IV_of_Great_Britain/), is made the Duke of Clarence. - **1811 CE**: William, Duke of Clarence, achieves the rank of Rear-Admiral. - **1817 CE**: The daughter and only legitimate heir of William, Duke of Clarence dies. - **11 Jul 1818 CE**: Prince William, future William IV Great [Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Britain/), marries Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen. - **1827 CE - 1828 CE**: William, Duke of Clarence, is made Lord High Admiral. - **1830 CE - 1837 CE**: Reign of [William IV of Great Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_IV_of_Great_Britain/). - **26 Jun 1830 CE**: [George IV of Great Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/George_IV_of_Great_Britain/) dies of illness at [Windsor Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Windsor_Castle/). - **8 Sep 1831 CE**: The coronation ceremony of [William IV of Great Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_IV_of_Great_Britain/) is held in Westminster Abbey. - **1832 CE**: The Reform Act increases the democratic base and political representation in [Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Britain/). - **1833 CE**: The Slavery Abolition Act abolishes slavery in most of the British [Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/) (but not [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/)). - **16 Oct 1834 CE**: A great fire destroys the Houses of Parliament in London. - **20 Jun 1837 CE**: [William IV of Great Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_IV_of_Great_Britain/) dies of cirrhosis of the liver and pneumonia. ## Questions & Answers ### What is William IV best known for? William IV is best known for being the monarch when the 1832 Reform Act was passed, which made the British electoral system more democratic and representative. ### Who was William IV to Queen Victoria? William IV of Great Britain was the uncle of Queen Victoria. ### Did King William the Fourth have any children? King William the Fourth had no surviving legitimate children, and so the next monarch was his niece Queen Victoria. ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2023, January 27). William IV of Great Britain. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/William\_IV\_of\_Great\_Britain/](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_IV_of_Great_Britain/) ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "William IV of Great Britain." *World History Encyclopedia*, January 27, 2023. [https://www.worldhistory.org/William\_IV\_of\_Great\_Britain/](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_IV_of_Great_Britain/). ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "William IV of Great Britain." *World History Encyclopedia*, 27 Jan 2023, [https://www.worldhistory.org/William\_IV\_of\_Great\_Britain/](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_IV_of_Great_Britain/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 27 January 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.