| William V and IV | |
|---|---|
| |
| King William V and IV by Walter Hudson | |
| Reign | 3 November 1755 –
18 September 1758 |
| Coronation | 10 July 1756 |
| Predecessor | William IV and III |
| Successor | Edward VII and I |
| Full name | |
| William Louis | |
| House | House of Orange-Nassau |
| Father | William, Prince of Wales |
| Mother | Anna Dorothea of Prussia |
| Born | 13 September 1745 [N.S.: 24 September 1745] St James's Palace, London |
| Died | 18 September 1758 (aged 13) [N.S.: 29 September 1758] Kensington Palace, London |
| Burial | 18 October 1758 Westminster Abbey, London |
| Religion | Anglican |
William V and IV (William Louis; O.S. 13 September 1745 – 18 September 1758) was the King of England, Scotland and Ireland between 1745 and his death at the age of 13. He was the third British monarch of the House of Orange-Nassau and the second youngest English monarch at the time of his passing.
Born sickly as the eldest son of William, Prince of Wales and Anna Dorothea of Prussia, William Louis was indulged as a child with a new residence built by his doting parents to house the youth in his later years. Presented with exuberant gifts and lavish presents, he grew up in a time of plenty in the aftermath of the War of the French Succession, and as such was tutored more so by ministers and religious teachers than generals and government officials.
Resigned and morose throughout his early life due to his shaky relationship with his bickering parents, lack of siblings, as well as over protection of his tutors due to his uncertain health, William Louis would ultimately become far more outgoing following the unexpected death of his father in 1752. Invited to remain with his grandfather, King William IV, the newly created Prince of Wales and heir of the three British kingdoms would become famous across the nation due to his affable nature and willingness to expend innumerable tender to finance parties and his over-indulgent nature.
In 1755 the Prince ascended to the throne following the death of his ageing and bedridden grandfather, the heir being crowned William V in England and IV in Scotland. To young to rule in his own right, William's eldest uncle Edward, Duke of York was appointed regent until the new king would reach the age of adulthood. However, after several bouts with disease during what was suppose to be the earliest years of his reign, William IV would ultimately die of a stomach-related illness (brought about after his thirteenth birthday celebration) in 1758 after only two years of rule, paving the way for his uncle to succeed to the throne after having minimal impact on the national and international policy.
