William IV was born in the early hours of the morning on August 21, 1765 at Buckingham House, the third child and son of King George III and Queen Charlotte.
He was the younger brother of King George III's successor George IV.
William joined the Navy aged 13. He served in New York during the American War of Independence, making him the only member of the British royal family to visit America up to and through the American Revolution.
William used to walk around New York unescorted and only started using guards after the British learned about a plot by George Washington to kidnap him.
He later served in the West Indies under Horatio Nelson. He gave away the bride at Nelson's wedding.
Serving in Gibraltar, William was arrested for drunken brawling but released when his identity was revealed.
He was created Duke of Clarence in 1789.
He was a Knight Of The Holy Spirit of France, Knight Of The Black Eagle of Prussia and Knight Of The Elephant of Denmark.
William lived with the Irish actress Dorothea Bland, stage name Mrs Jordan, from 1791-1811 when he was Duke of Clarence.
He married Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen on July 11, 1818, at Kew Palace in Surrey. William apparently remained faithful to her for the rest of his life.
The Australian city of Adelaide was named after King William IV's queen.
William had no surviving children from his marriage to Adelaide, but he was survived by eight of the ten illegitimate children he had by Mrs Jordan.
One of their children was Lady Elizabeth FitzClarence, from whom former English Prime Minister David Cameron is directly descended.
His favourite drink was barley water flavoured with lemon, of which he drank large quantities.
Because King George IV's only legitimate child, Princess Charlotte, had died before him, William succeeded his older brother to the English throne.
William IV became king on June 26, 1830, aged 64. He was the oldest ever person to have come to the British or English throne.
He was also King of Hanover but never visited Hanover while he was its king.
During the Reform Bill crisis, William IV secured its passage by agreeing to create peers.
William IV died in the early hours of the morning of June 20, 1837 at Windsor Castle,
He was succeeded in the UK by his niece, Queen Victoria as all his eight surviving children were illegitimate.
William was the last Englishman to be King of Hanover where he was succeeded by his brother Ernest Augustus, as Hanoverian law did not allow rule by a woman.
He was the younger brother of King George III's successor George IV.
William joined the Navy aged 13. He served in New York during the American War of Independence, making him the only member of the British royal family to visit America up to and through the American Revolution.
William used to walk around New York unescorted and only started using guards after the British learned about a plot by George Washington to kidnap him.
He later served in the West Indies under Horatio Nelson. He gave away the bride at Nelson's wedding.
Serving in Gibraltar, William was arrested for drunken brawling but released when his identity was revealed.
 |
| William in dress uniform painted by Sir Martin Archer Shee, c.1800 |
He was created Duke of Clarence in 1789.
He was a Knight Of The Holy Spirit of France, Knight Of The Black Eagle of Prussia and Knight Of The Elephant of Denmark.
William lived with the Irish actress Dorothea Bland, stage name Mrs Jordan, from 1791-1811 when he was Duke of Clarence.
He married Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen on July 11, 1818, at Kew Palace in Surrey. William apparently remained faithful to her for the rest of his life.
 |
| Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen by Sir William Beechey, c. 1831 |
The Australian city of Adelaide was named after King William IV's queen.
William had no surviving children from his marriage to Adelaide, but he was survived by eight of the ten illegitimate children he had by Mrs Jordan.
One of their children was Lady Elizabeth FitzClarence, from whom former English Prime Minister David Cameron is directly descended.
His favourite drink was barley water flavoured with lemon, of which he drank large quantities.
Because King George IV's only legitimate child, Princess Charlotte, had died before him, William succeeded his older brother to the English throne.
William IV became king on June 26, 1830, aged 64. He was the oldest ever person to have come to the British or English throne.
 |
| Portrait by Sir Martin Archer Shee, 1833 |
He was also King of Hanover but never visited Hanover while he was its king.
During the Reform Bill crisis, William IV secured its passage by agreeing to create peers.
William IV died in the early hours of the morning of June 20, 1837 at Windsor Castle,
He was succeeded in the UK by his niece, Queen Victoria as all his eight surviving children were illegitimate.
William was the last Englishman to be King of Hanover where he was succeeded by his brother Ernest Augustus, as Hanoverian law did not allow rule by a woman.
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