William IV of the United Kingdom

Reign: 1830 – 1837
Life: 1765–1837

William served in the Royal Navy in his youth, spending time in British North America and the Caribbean, and was later nicknamed the "Sailor King". In 1789, he was created Duke of Clarence and St Andrews. In 1818, he married Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen. His reign saw several reforms: the Poor Law was updated, child labour restricted, slavery abolished in nearly all of the British Empire, and the electoral system refashioned by the Reform Act 1832.

During William IV of the United Kingdom's reign, William I of the Netherlands ruled Netherlands, Frederick William III of Prussia ruled Prussia, and Nicholas I of Russia ruled Russia.

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King William IV by Philip Ziegler

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King William IV

Philip Ziegler

Ziegler's authoritative biography of the 'Sailor King' who cleared the path to Victoria's reign.

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