636401
King William IV
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William Henry, 1765-1837. King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 1830-1837. Autograph Letter Signed, William, as Duke of Clarence, one page, 8" x 10", Meiningen [Germany], April 27, 1825.
William, complaining about mail service, seeks help in delivering correspondence to India. In full: "I will thank you to forward the enclosed by the first opportunity to India. / I had been in hopes that as Germany is certainly informed since the last three years the Parliament have kept pace with other things. But I am sorry to say the conveyance of letters by the Mails and of packets by the Diligences is if possible more irregular than formerly. We are without letters since the Twelfth instant. / Ever believe me, / Yours sincerely / William."
William was third son of King George III. Because he had two older brothers, he did not expect to inherit the crown. Instead, at age 13 he entered the Royal Navy. He saw active service in New York during the American revolution and also in the West Indies, and he eventually rose through the ranks from midshipman to rear admiral by the time he ceased active service in 1790. In 1811 he was appointed Admiral of the Fleet. His naval service earned him the nickname the “Sailor King."
In 1820, George III died. His oldest son, who had served as Prince Regent since 1811 because of George III's mental illness, became King George IV. He, however, had no children, and so William became second in the line of succession behind his next older brother, the Duke of York. When the duke died in 1827, William became the heir presumptive. Three years later, upon the death of George IV, William became king.
William, nicknamed the “Sailor King,” ruled during a time of social and political reform. During his reign, slavery was abolished throughout the British empire. In addition, the poor law was updated, and child labor was restricted. The most important reform legislation was the Reform Act of 1832, which refashioned the British electoral system. Although William did not meddle in politics as much as either his father or his brother, he was the last monarch to appoint a Prime Minister contrary to the will of Parliament.
After he left the Royal Navy, William had a 20-year affair with an Irish actress and fathered at least ten illegitimate children. The affair ended for political reasons. On July 13, 1818, William married Princess Adelaide, the daughter of the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, who was half his age. They had only two children, both daughters who died during infancy. Consequently, when William IV died in 1837, he was succeeded by his niece, who became Queen Victoria.
William's writing and signature in this letter are extremely dark and bold. The mailing folds exhibit minor tearing and have been reinforced, and there are minor wrinkling and foxing and some chipping and minor paper loss at the edges, none of which affects the signature. Overall the letter is in very good to fine condition.
Unframed.
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