With the Act of Settlement in 1701, Catholics were no longer allowed to sit on the English throne. This resulted in the abrupt end to the House of Stuart with Queen Anne, and ushered in the House of Hanover with King George in 1714. It also marked an important transition to a more Parliament controlled government over the monarchy. Nonetheless the Monarch still had many powers as they sat at the cross section of the united kingdoms of Scotland, Ireland, and England to reign over what had become Great Britain.
The House of Hanover were originally from Germany, however were able to plant themselves in English nobility through arranged marriages. It was their Protestant faith, that brought them the throne, when Queen Anne was unable to produce an heir. George was the son of Sophia of Hanover who was the Granddaughter of King James, making him a distant cousin to Queen Anne. This caused some upheaval from the House of Stuart, however nothing of major threat. Thus the House of Hanover fittingly served as the transitional dynasty in Parliaments newly formatted constitutional monarchy.
Their period was rather stable and influenced by the politics of their time. In 1721 the Parliament established an office for a Prime Minister, who presided over Parliament and shared many authorities that were once held by the monarch. Robert Walpole was the first sitting Prime Minister and sat in office until 1741. During the reign of King George III, the English Colonies were loss as a result of the American Revolutionary War of 1775-1783. Nonetheless the British kingdom had still expanded into an empire during this period, covering one third of the globe. They had territory in Australia, India, Africa, the Caribbean, as well as Canada which gave way to the famous saying that the sun never set on the British Empire.
House of Hanover (1714-1901)
King George
Reign: 1714-1727
Dynasty: House of Hanover
Marriage: Sophia of Celle
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Children: George II, Sophia
Historical Bio: He was Queen Anne's distant cousin and closest living Protestant relative who was able to ascend to throne due to the Act of Settlement. His ascension to the throne in 1714 marked the beginning of the House of Hanover as well as the Constitutional Monarchy. His reign was challenged early by James Francis Stuart, the son of King James II, in a failed rebellion known as the Jacobite Rising of 1715. Following this event, his reign was mostly made up of family tension between his wife and son. He did not speak fluent English and did not get too involved with the Parliament, which allowed them much freedom in their policies. During his reign the first Prime Minister came to office in 1721, Robert Walpole.
King George II
Reign: 1727-1760
Dynasty: House of Hanover
Marriage: Caroline of Ansbach
Children: Frederick, Anne, Amelia, Caroline, William, Mary, Louisa
Historical Bio: He was the only son of King George, and succeeded his father in 1727. Just like his father before him, he had little involvement in Parliament. He was however the last British monarch to lead his army into battle during the War of Austrian Succession. He also put down the last of the Jacobite rebellions, bringing in an end to the Stuart/Catholic claim to the throne. Both his male children died before his time, so he was succeeded by his grandson, George III, son of Frederick.
King George III
Reign: 1760-1820
Dynasty: House of Hanover
Marriage: Charlotte of Mecklenburg
Children: George IV, Frederick, William IV, Charlotte, Edward, Augusta, Elizabeth, Ernest, Agustus, Aldolphus, Mary, Sophia, Octavius, Alfred, Amelia
Historical Bio: He was the son of Frederick and grandson of King George II, and succeeded to the throne in 1760. He was the first Hanover king to have been born in Britain and spoke fluent English, however just as his predecessors he took a back set to Parliament's control. Nonetheless his reign was the longest prior to it's time, and a very eventful one as he resided over a number of military conflicts. From 1754-1763, Britain became the strongest power in Europe after defeating France in the Seven Years War; part of which was fought in the colonies during the French and Indian War. However this conflict was later followed by the American Revolutionary War 1775-1783, which granted the colonies their independence from British control. Following this King George dealt with the French Revolution as well as the Napoleonic Wars that lasted from 1803-1815. In 1815 his British armies defeated the rising dictator Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo. He spent the final part of his years suffering from mental illness and was eventually succeeded by his eldest son George IV.
King George IV
Reign: 1820-1830
Dynasty: House of Hanover
Marriage: Caroline of Brunswick
Children: Charlotte
Historical Bio: He was the eldest son of King George III, who succeeded his father in 1820. He had served as regent king during his father's final years of illness. He played little role in the politics of the time, that saw Lord Liverpool reside over the government. In 1829, although he was against it, he accepted Catholic Emancipation, which repealed many of the previous strict laws against religious tolerance. He was as a patron of arts and fashion and commissioned many new forms of architecture. He had many disputes with his wife as well as mistresses, and was unable to provide an heir to the throne.
King William IV
Reign: 1830-1837
Dynasty: House of Hanover
Marriage: Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen
Children: Elizabeth
Historical Bio: He was the son of King George III, and succeeded his brother George IV, at the age of 62. Although he did not play an influential role on the government, he still oversaw several changes in law such as poverty relief, child labor restrictions, and the abolishment of slavery. He also signed the Great Reform Act of 1832 which changed the format of Parliament, and gave more voice to the public voters. By the time of his death, he did not have a legitimate heir, and the succession passed on to his niece, Queen Victoria.
Queen Victoria
Reign: 1837-1901
Dynasty: House of Hanover
Marriage: Albert of Saxe-Coburg
Children: Edward VII, Alice, Alfred, Helena, Louise, Arthur, Leopold
Historical Bio: She was the granddaughter of King George III, and succeeded her uncle King William IV to the throne at age 18. Although she understood the role of monarch had become symbolic, she still played an influential role on policies behind the curtains. Her long reign of 63 years became the longest of any British monarch and was a prosperous one that has become known as the Victorian Era. During this period the British Empire continued to expand much thanks to advancements in science, government, and industry. The Industrial Revolution had taken a hold of Europe, which became the backbone of Britain's thriving economy. This peaceful time also brought about a cultural and artistic rebirth, that became part of the Bella Epoque. She had nine children, all of which were married into noble families across Europe. When her husband died in 1861 she went through a very depressive time and avoided publicity for a while, however later returned. She was very popular with the general public, and was able to sway and influence Parliament until her death. She was succeeded by her eldest son, Edward VII, which marked a break from the House of Hanover and on to the House of Saxe-Coburg.
House of Saxe-Coburg (1901-1910)
King Edward VII
Reign: 1901-1910
Dynasty: House of Saxe-Coburg
Marriage: Alexandra of Denmark
Children: Albert, George V, Louise, Victoria, Maud
Historical Bio: He was the eldest son of Queen Victoria, who succeeded his mother's long reign in the year 1901. His influence in governing was far less influential than his mother and he rather served as a fashionable symbol of royalty. He was also very fond of traveling, and went on numerous public relations voyages. His short ten year reign has been described as the Edwardian Era. It was a peaceful time that gave way to advancements in science, technology, and the rise of socialism throughout Europe. He was the first and only monarch from the German House of Saxe-Coburg. The dynasty name was later changed by his son George V, to the House of Windsor due to anti-German sentiment during World War I.
The House of Hanover were originally from Germany, however were able to plant themselves in English nobility through arranged marriages. It was their Protestant faith, that brought them the throne, when Queen Anne was unable to produce an heir. George was the son of Sophia of Hanover who was the Granddaughter of King James, making him a distant cousin to Queen Anne. This caused some upheaval from the House of Stuart, however nothing of major threat. Thus the House of Hanover fittingly served as the transitional dynasty in Parliaments newly formatted constitutional monarchy.
Their period was rather stable and influenced by the politics of their time. In 1721 the Parliament established an office for a Prime Minister, who presided over Parliament and shared many authorities that were once held by the monarch. Robert Walpole was the first sitting Prime Minister and sat in office until 1741. During the reign of King George III, the English Colonies were loss as a result of the American Revolutionary War of 1775-1783. Nonetheless the British kingdom had still expanded into an empire during this period, covering one third of the globe. They had territory in Australia, India, Africa, the Caribbean, as well as Canada which gave way to the famous saying that the sun never set on the British Empire.
House of Hanover (1714-1901)
King George
Reign: 1714-1727
Dynasty: House of Hanover
Marriage: Sophia of Celle
Children: George II, SophiaHistorical Bio: He was Queen Anne's distant cousin and closest living Protestant relative who was able to ascend to throne due to the Act of Settlement. His ascension to the throne in 1714 marked the beginning of the House of Hanover as well as the Constitutional Monarchy. His reign was challenged early by James Francis Stuart, the son of King James II, in a failed rebellion known as the Jacobite Rising of 1715. Following this event, his reign was mostly made up of family tension between his wife and son. He did not speak fluent English and did not get too involved with the Parliament, which allowed them much freedom in their policies. During his reign the first Prime Minister came to office in 1721, Robert Walpole.
King George II
Reign: 1727-1760
Dynasty: House of Hanover
Marriage: Caroline of Ansbach
Children: Frederick, Anne, Amelia, Caroline, William, Mary, Louisa
Historical Bio: He was the only son of King George, and succeeded his father in 1727. Just like his father before him, he had little involvement in Parliament. He was however the last British monarch to lead his army into battle during the War of Austrian Succession. He also put down the last of the Jacobite rebellions, bringing in an end to the Stuart/Catholic claim to the throne. Both his male children died before his time, so he was succeeded by his grandson, George III, son of Frederick.
King George III
Reign: 1760-1820
Dynasty: House of Hanover
Marriage: Charlotte of Mecklenburg
Children: George IV, Frederick, William IV, Charlotte, Edward, Augusta, Elizabeth, Ernest, Agustus, Aldolphus, Mary, Sophia, Octavius, Alfred, AmeliaHistorical Bio: He was the son of Frederick and grandson of King George II, and succeeded to the throne in 1760. He was the first Hanover king to have been born in Britain and spoke fluent English, however just as his predecessors he took a back set to Parliament's control. Nonetheless his reign was the longest prior to it's time, and a very eventful one as he resided over a number of military conflicts. From 1754-1763, Britain became the strongest power in Europe after defeating France in the Seven Years War; part of which was fought in the colonies during the French and Indian War. However this conflict was later followed by the American Revolutionary War 1775-1783, which granted the colonies their independence from British control. Following this King George dealt with the French Revolution as well as the Napoleonic Wars that lasted from 1803-1815. In 1815 his British armies defeated the rising dictator Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo. He spent the final part of his years suffering from mental illness and was eventually succeeded by his eldest son George IV.
King George IV
Reign: 1820-1830
Dynasty: House of Hanover
Marriage: Caroline of Brunswick
Children: Charlotte
Historical Bio: He was the eldest son of King George III, who succeeded his father in 1820. He had served as regent king during his father's final years of illness. He played little role in the politics of the time, that saw Lord Liverpool reside over the government. In 1829, although he was against it, he accepted Catholic Emancipation, which repealed many of the previous strict laws against religious tolerance. He was as a patron of arts and fashion and commissioned many new forms of architecture. He had many disputes with his wife as well as mistresses, and was unable to provide an heir to the throne.
King William IV
Reign: 1830-1837
Dynasty: House of Hanover
Marriage: Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen
Children: Elizabeth
Historical Bio: He was the son of King George III, and succeeded his brother George IV, at the age of 62. Although he did not play an influential role on the government, he still oversaw several changes in law such as poverty relief, child labor restrictions, and the abolishment of slavery. He also signed the Great Reform Act of 1832 which changed the format of Parliament, and gave more voice to the public voters. By the time of his death, he did not have a legitimate heir, and the succession passed on to his niece, Queen Victoria.
Queen Victoria
Reign: 1837-1901
Dynasty: House of Hanover
Marriage: Albert of Saxe-Coburg
Children: Edward VII, Alice, Alfred, Helena, Louise, Arthur, Leopold
Historical Bio: She was the granddaughter of King George III, and succeeded her uncle King William IV to the throne at age 18. Although she understood the role of monarch had become symbolic, she still played an influential role on policies behind the curtains. Her long reign of 63 years became the longest of any British monarch and was a prosperous one that has become known as the Victorian Era. During this period the British Empire continued to expand much thanks to advancements in science, government, and industry. The Industrial Revolution had taken a hold of Europe, which became the backbone of Britain's thriving economy. This peaceful time also brought about a cultural and artistic rebirth, that became part of the Bella Epoque. She had nine children, all of which were married into noble families across Europe. When her husband died in 1861 she went through a very depressive time and avoided publicity for a while, however later returned. She was very popular with the general public, and was able to sway and influence Parliament until her death. She was succeeded by her eldest son, Edward VII, which marked a break from the House of Hanover and on to the House of Saxe-Coburg.
House of Saxe-Coburg (1901-1910)
King Edward VII
Reign: 1901-1910
Dynasty: House of Saxe-Coburg
Marriage: Alexandra of Denmark
Children: Albert, George V, Louise, Victoria, Maud
Historical Bio: He was the eldest son of Queen Victoria, who succeeded his mother's long reign in the year 1901. His influence in governing was far less influential than his mother and he rather served as a fashionable symbol of royalty. He was also very fond of traveling, and went on numerous public relations voyages. His short ten year reign has been described as the Edwardian Era. It was a peaceful time that gave way to advancements in science, technology, and the rise of socialism throughout Europe. He was the first and only monarch from the German House of Saxe-Coburg. The dynasty name was later changed by his son George V, to the House of Windsor due to anti-German sentiment during World War I.
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