King William IV
(1765-1837), Reigned 1830-37Early Victorian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 174 portraits
William IV ruled from 1830-37. He succeeded to the throne just as the campaign for Parliamentary reform reached its peak. He reluctantly agreed to create the extra Whig peers needed to pass the Reform Act in 1832, although his proved unnecessary when the Tories withdrew their opposition to the Act. On his death, Victoria his niece became queen. Despite having ten illegitimate children from his twenty-year relationship with Mrs Jordan, William had no heir from his official marriage to Princess Adelaide.
More on King William IV: Monarchs range in our Shops | Kings & Queens range in our Shops
by Sir Martin Archer Shee
oil on canvas, circa 1800
NPG 2199
The Trial of Queen Caroline 1820
by Sir George Hayter
oil on canvas, 1820-1823
NPG 999
Group including King William IV and others
by Sir George Hayter
pen and ink and wash, 1820
NPG 1695(j)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1820s or 1830s
NPG 316a(34)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1820s or 1830s
NPG 316a(35)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1820s or 1830s
NPG 316a(36)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1820s or 1830s
NPG 316a(37)
attributed to Sir George Hayter
pencil, circa 1825-1828
NPG 1632
after a drawing by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
tracing, 1837, based on a work of 1830
NPG 316a(141)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1830
NPG 316a(142)
after Henry Edward Dawe
watercolour, 1830-1900, based on a work of 1830
NPG 1163
by William Salter
oil on canvas, circa 1834-1840
NPG 3767
by Sir David Wilkie
oil on canvas, 1837
NPG 5917
by Reginald Easton
watercolour, circa 1838-1839
NPG 4703
by John De Veaux
wax medallion
NPG 2920
'The Kings and Queens of England: From the Conquest to Queen Victoria'
by Henry Hering
albumen carte-de-visite photomontage, 1862
NPG Ax131392
by and published by Valentine Green, after Benjamin West
mezzotint, published 1 February 1780
NPG D33544
published for London Magazine
line engraving, published January 1781
NPG D14944
by Francesco Bartolozzi, and by Paul Sandby, published by Antonio Poggi, after Benjamin West
line and stipple engraving and aquatint, published 15 January 1782
NPG D33545
King William IV and an unknown woman ('Wouski')
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 23 January 1788
NPG D12290
Related People
- Queen Adelaide (Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen) (wife)
- Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence (son)
- Lord Augustus Fitzclarence (son)
- Lord Frederick Fitzclarence (son)
- Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (brother)
- King George IV (brother)
- Lady Augusta Gordon-Hallyburton (née Fitzclarence) (daughter)
- Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (brother)
- George Augustus Frederick Fitzclarence, 1st Earl of Munster (son)
- Queen Victoria (niece)
- Millicent Ann Mary Wemyss (née Kennedy-Erskine) (granddaughter)
Tell us more back to top
Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.
If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.
Please note that we cannot provide valuations.
We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.