William III of England
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| William III | |
|---|---|
| King of England, Scotland, and Ireland | |
 Portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1680s | |
| Reign | 13 February 1689 – 8 March 1702 |
| Coronation | 11 April 1689 |
| Predecessor | James II & VII |
| Successor | Anne |
| Regent | Mary II (1689–1694) |
| Born | 4 November 1650 Binnenhof, The Hague, Dutch Republic |
| Died | 8 March 1702 (aged 51) Kensington Palace, London, England |
| Burial | |
| Spouse | Mary II |
| House | House of Orange-Nassau |
| Father | William II, Prince of Orange |
| Mother | Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange |
| Signature | William III's signature |
William III (4 November 1650 – 8 March 1702) was a sovereign Prince of Orange from birth, Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel in the Dutch Republic, and King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1689 until his death in 1702. He is sometimes informally known as "William of Orange" in reference to his Dutch title, and "King Billy" in Ireland and Scotland.
Early Life[edit | edit source]
William was born in the Binnenhof in The Hague in the Dutch Republic. He was the only child of William II, Prince of Orange, and Mary Stuart, the eldest daughter of Charles I of England. His father died of smallpox a week before William's birth, leaving him the sovereign Prince of Orange from the moment of his birth.
Marriage to Mary II[edit | edit source]
In 1677, William married his first cousin Mary, the daughter of the future James II & VII. The marriage was intended to unite the interests of the English and Dutch Protestant states against the Catholic Louis XIV of France.
Glorious Revolution[edit | edit source]
In 1688, William was invited by a group of English nobles to invade England and overthrow the unpopular Catholic king, James II. William landed at Brixham in November 1688, and James fled to France. William and Mary were declared joint sovereigns of England, Scotland, and Ireland in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
Reign[edit | edit source]
William's reign was marked by the ongoing conflict with France, known as the Nine Years' War, and the subsequent War of the Spanish Succession. Domestically, his reign saw the establishment of the Bank of England and the passing of the Bill of Rights, which limited the powers of the monarchy and laid the foundation for a constitutional monarchy.
Death and Legacy[edit | edit source]
William died on 8 March 1702 from complications after a fall from his horse. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. His death marked the end of the House of Orange-Nassau's direct influence on the British throne, as he was succeeded by his sister-in-law, Queen Anne.
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