William IV of the United Kingdom Biography

William IV was king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1830 to 1837. Under his reign, the revolutionary ‘Reform Act of 1832’ was passed. Born in England, he was the third son of George III, and as such was not expected to succeed to the throne. Brought up since childhood for a naval career, he joined the ‘Royal Navy’ in his teenage years and enjoyed his time at sea, later becoming the captain of a frigate and eventually the admiral of the fleet. Afterwards, he was created the Duke of Clarence, took retirement from his active service, and went to live with his mistress with whom he had ten illegitimate children. He spent the next two decades with them. After the death of prince regent’s only daughter, a race began among the royal dukes to marry and produce legitimate heir for the throne. Therefore, he married Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen and upon the death of George IV, was crowned the King of England as William IV. Initially very popular among all classes, William’s reign was mostly dominated by the Reform crisis. ‘The Reform Act of 1832,’ passed after much parliamentary debates, abolished some of the worst misuses of the electoral system and extended the franchise to the middle classes. After ruling for seven years, William died without any surviving legitimate children and his niece Victoria succeeded him to the throne.