About
British monarch best known for serving as King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from 1830 until his death in 1837. Prior to ascending the throne, he enjoyed a lengthy naval career, which later contributed to his nickname, "the Sailor King."
Before fame
He was the third son born to King George III and Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He joined the Royal Navy as a teen and served in North America and the Caribbean.
Trivia
During his reign, he signed the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, which led to the abolition of slavery throughout most of the British Empire. He was the last British monarch to serve in the Royal Navy and the last to rule both the UK and Hanover as the crowns separated upon his death.
Family life
In 1818, he married Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, after whom the city of Adelaide is named. He was said to have fathered several children with his longtime companion, actress Dorothea Jordan. Upon his death in 1837, the throne was passed to his niece, Queen Victoria, which commenced the beginning of the Victorian era.
Associated with
In 1786, he became captain of the HMS Pegasus before being stationed in the West Indies under Horatio Nelson later that same year.
