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King William IV

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Monarch

The Resume

    (August 21, 1765-June 26, 1837)
    Born in London, United Kingdom
    Third son of King George III
    Younger brother of King George IV
    King of Great Britain and Ireland (1830-37)
    Succeeded by his niece, Queen Victoria
    Nicknamed ‘the Sailor King’

Why he might be annoying:

    During a drunken revel in Barbados, he and his cronies caused 700 pounds worth of damage to a brothel.
    He had ten children out of wedlock with actress Dorothea Jordan.
    He was estranged from his eldest son, who refused to visit when he was on his deathbed.
    He spoke out against the abolition of slavery, saying freedom would do the slaves little good.

Why he might not be annoying:

    While serving with the Royal Navy in the United States during the American Revolution, he was the target of a foiled kidnapping plot.
    When he finally did marry, he was faithful to his wife.
    As Lord High Admiral, he abolished the cat o’ nine tails for offenses other than mutiny, required regular readiness reports for each ship, and commissioned the Royal Navy’s first steamship.
    As monarch, he discouraged pomp and ceremony.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 80 Votes: 53.75% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 123 Votes: 58.54% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 179 Votes: 51.40% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 75 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 86 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 34 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 49 Votes: 55.10% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 31 Votes: 51.61% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 88 Votes: 57.95% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 14 Votes: 78.57% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 57 Votes: 71.93% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 91 Votes: 62.64% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 60 Votes: 73.33% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 32 Votes: 59.38% Annoying