History

William IV (Penguin Monarchs): A King at Sea

William IV (Penguin Monarchs): A King at Sea

  • Downloads：5773
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-03-27 14:15:18
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：R.J.B. Knight
  • ISBN：0141989890
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
  • Download

Summary

'He had brought nothing but trouble to the navy: how would he fare as King？'

Known as the 'Sailor King'， William IV was sent to join the navy by his father to discipline him， but instead became notorious for his calamitous years of service， his debts and his relationship with the actress Mrs Jordan。 Yet， as Roger Knight's biography shows， William also helped see the country through the great constitutional crisis of its age， enabling the smooth succession of his niece Victoria。

Download

Reviews

Susanna Robertson-Sheath ，

Interesting; some parts were rather much but I may enjoy it more on a second or third read。 Ending was a nice sudo-obituary to King William IV。

Jim McDonald ，

Excellent little book about William IV。 Here is my review:http://redjim73。blogspot。com/2016/06/。。。 Excellent little book about William IV。 Here is my review:http://redjim73。blogspot。com/2016/06/。。。 。。。more

Caidyn （he/him/his） ，

William IV is very interesting。 He's treated like a footnote between George IV's reign and the oncoming of Victoria。 I never really knew much about him， but he's an interesting man。 This book focused on his naval career -- or his interest in the navy， at least -- but I'd definitely look for a longer book about him in the future！ William IV is very interesting。 He's treated like a footnote between George IV's reign and the oncoming of Victoria。 I never really knew much about him， but he's an interesting man。 This book focused on his naval career -- or his interest in the navy， at least -- but I'd definitely look for a longer book about him in the future！ 。。。more

Tom Janson ，

Informative read about one of Britain’s ‘forgotten kings’。My only criticism is that it would be interesting to read more of his relationship with the young （soon to be Queen） Victoria and her mother。

David ，

Pretty dry and factual （especially the first half covering Well Liam’s naval career）， lacking the colour and insight other titles in the series display。

Carolyn Harris ，

A good overview of William IV's life and reign。 Knight is critical of William's career as a naval officer but concludes that he was a success as king because he was willing to listen to advice。 There is some good analysis of William's personal life as well。 Knight praises William's longtime mistress Dora Jordan as "remarkable and openhearted" but has a mixed view of Queen Adelaide who helped William get his finances under control but opposed political reform。 I would have been interested to read A good overview of William IV's life and reign。 Knight is critical of William's career as a naval officer but concludes that he was a success as king because he was willing to listen to advice。 There is some good analysis of William's personal life as well。 Knight praises William's longtime mistress Dora Jordan as "remarkable and openhearted" but has a mixed view of Queen Adelaide who helped William get his finances under control but opposed political reform。 I would have been interested to read more about William's relationship with his ten children with Dora Jordan and his travels in British North America and the Caribbean。 The book includes a wide range of suggestions for further reading。 。。。more

Vince Sheehan ，

Yes， according to this book （and many others I would imagine）， William was a bit of a disaster。 He was a pugnacious youth， he was promoted in the Navy to a degree that was far beyond his capabilities， and William had very poor leadership， indeed， social skills。 However， despite all of this， you can't help but like the man。 As a king， he was very much 'his own person' and seemed perfectly well aware of his shortcomings， as well as his strengths。 And of course， he eventually passed the electoral r Yes， according to this book （and many others I would imagine）， William was a bit of a disaster。 He was a pugnacious youth， he was promoted in the Navy to a degree that was far beyond his capabilities， and William had very poor leadership， indeed， social skills。 However， despite all of this， you can't help but like the man。 As a king， he was very much 'his own person' and seemed perfectly well aware of his shortcomings， as well as his strengths。 And of course， he eventually passed the electoral reforms that the country was crying out for - a considerable feat。Importantly， he paved the way for the glories of the Victoria's reign， which he helped enable by reversing many of the excesses of his brother's reign。 A very well written book， and an excellent introduction to a lesser known British monarch。 Of course， as with all books in this series， the presentation and design/artwork are outstanding。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=William IV (Penguin Monarchs): A King at Sea

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=William IV (Penguin Monarchs): A King at Sea&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,William IV (Penguin Monarchs): A King at Sea&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0