King William IV

After King George IV died childless in 1830, his younger brother became King William IV. William Henry was born at Buckingham House on 21 August 1765. As the third son of King George III, his prospects of becoming King himself one day weren´t very good, to say the least, and so he was allowed to pursue a naval career: He went to sea at the age of 14. In the mid-1780´s, he started a happy relationship with an actress which lasted until 1814; the unmarried couple produced ten children. When his niece Charlotte (daughter of later King George IV) died in 1817, the unmarried sons of King George III were forced to marry and produce legitimate children. The marriage of William to Princess Adelaide remained childless, however, but the couple led a happy marriage, with the Princess caring for her husband´s illegitimate children and grandchildren. In 1820 after his father´s death, William became second in line to the throne, and the death of his elder brother Frederick in 1827 made him heir presumptive. Succeeding his eldest brother King George in 1830, his reign was less spectacular (and less expensive for tax-payers) than his brother´s. He was fond of his niece Princess Victoria (his younger brother Edward´s daughter), who was to follow him. He died at Windsor Castle on 20 June 1837.

His signature on a document (1836).