William IV
Born: 1765
Died: 1837
Reigned: 1830-37
- Born Prince William, later Duke of Clarence, the third son of George III
- ‘The Sailor King’ who spent much of his early life at sea
- In 1818 married Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen; none of their children survived to adulthood
- Succeeded his brother, George IV; was succeeded by his niece, Queen Victoria
- Shared few of George IV’s passions for the fine arts and luxury goods and trimmed away much of the pageantry of the Coronation
- Completed the transformation of Buckingham Palace and refurbishment of the State Apartments at Windsor begun by his predecessor
- Bought the Rockingham dessert service and services from Worcester and Davenport
- Formed the present Royal Library at Windsor by bringing together the various small libraries of his predecessors
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