Autographs of Royals...

Part 4: 1760-1837 (Kings George III, George IV and William IV)

George III (1738-1820), who came to power when his grandfather George II. died in 1760, was "The Last King of America". He wasn´t very intelligent, reportedly (he learnt reading when he was 11 years old, but he was a friend and promoter of arts and sciences), and became mentally ill very early (first signs in 1765); in 1811 he was no longer "bearable" and his son became "Prince Regent" (later George IV.), until he died blind, deaf, and mad at Windsor Castle. On the right, you can see a picture of him soon after he became King, on the left his signature how it looked in 1798 (top), and a few years later, before his son took over as "Prince Regent".

Below, you can see a signature (as "Prince Regent" 1811-20 and King) and picture of George IV. (1762-1830), who was notorious for his lavish lifestyle. In 1785 he had secretly married a Catholic woman, which was forbidden to a Royal then, so the marriage was annulled. His second, "legal", marriage in 1795 (which was divorced not long after that) produced a daughter; so when he died (the "Times" wrote in its obituary something like "Never there was a less-mourned deceased than this King"), it was George III.´s third son´s turn.

William IV (1765-1837), like his brother, wasn´t popular (William had ten children with his mistress, before he married a "reputable" woman), and when William died in 1837 without a heir (his legitimate daughters had died early), the British were glad that he hadn´t reigned longer; also, they had grown tired of their monarchs. This changed, however, with his successor. You can see a picture of the "Duke of Clarence" (his title since 1789), next to his royal signature.

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