George IV of the United Kingdom

George IV (George Augustus Frederick) (12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Hanover from 29 January 1820. He had earlier served as Prince Regent when his father, George III, suffered from a relapse into insanity from porphyria.

Early life

George, the eldest son of George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, was born in St. James's Palace. At his birth, he automatically became Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay; he was created Prince of Wales shortly afterwards. He was a talented student, quickly learning to speak not only English but also French, German and Italian. The Prince of Wales turned twenty-one in 1783, when he obtained a grant of £60,000 from Parliament and an annual income of £50,000 from his father. He then established his residence in Carlton House, where he lived a profligate life. Animosity developed between the Prince and his father, a monarch who desired more frugal behaviour on the part of the heir-apparent. The King, a strong supporter of the Tory party, was also alienated by the Prince of Wales's adherence to Charles James Fox and other Whigs.

Related Topics:
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz - St. James's Palace - Duke of Cornwall - Duke of Rothesay - Prince of Wales - French - German - Italian - 1783 - Carlton House - Tory - Charles James Fox - Whig

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Soon after he reached the age of twenty-one years, the Prince of Wales fell in love with a Roman Catholic, Maria Anne Fitzherbert. Mrs Fitzherbert was a widow twice over; her first husband, Edward Weld died in 1775, and her second husband, Thomas Fitzherbert, in 1781. A marriage between the two was impeded by the Act of Settlement 1701, which declared those who married Roman Catholics ineligible to succeed to the Throne. An even more daunting barrier was the Royal Marriages Act 1772, under which the Prince of Wales could not marry without the consent of the King, which, unquestionably, would have never been granted. Nevertheless, the couple contracted a "marriage" on December 15, 1785. Legally the union was void, as the King's assent was never requested and received. However, Mrs Fitzherbert believed that she was the Prince of Wales's canonical and true wife, holding the law of the Church to be superior to the law of the State. For political reasons, the union remained secret, and Mrs Fitzherbert promised not to publish any evidence relating to it.

Related Topics:
Maria Anne Fitzherbert - Edward Weld - 1775 - Thomas Fitzherbert - 1781 - Act of Settlement 1701 - Royal Marriages Act 1772 - December 15 - 1785

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The Prince of Wales was plunged into debt by his exorbitant lifestyle. His father refused to assist him, forcing him to quit Carlton House and live in Mrs Fitzherbert's residence. In 1787, the Prince of Wales's allies in the House of Commons introduced a proposal to relieve his debts with a parliamentary grant. The Prince of Wales's personal relationship with Mrs Fitzherbert was suspected, but revelation of the illegal marriage would have scandalised the nation and doomed any parliamentary proposal to aid him. Acting on the Prince's authority, the Whig leader Charles James Fox declared that the story was a calumny. Mrs Fitzherbert was not pleased with the public denial of the marriage in such vehement terms and contemplated severing her ties to the Prince. He appeased her by asking another Whig, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, to restate Fox's forceful declaration in more careful words. Parliament, meanwhile, was sufficiently pleased to grant the Prince of Wales £161,000 for the payment of his debts, in addition to £20,000 for improvements to Carlton House. The King also agreed to increase the Prince of Wales's annual allowance by £10,000.

Related Topics:
1787 - House of Commons - Whig - Richard Brinsley Sheridan

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