William IV of the United Kingdom William IV of the United Kingdom William IV (William Henry; 21 August 1765 – 20 June 1837) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837. The third son of George III, William succeeded his elder brother George IV, becoming the last king and penultimate monarch of Britain's House of Hanover. William served in the Royal Navy in his youth, spending time in North America and the Caribbean, and was later nicknamed the "Sailor King". In 1789, he was created Duke of Clarence and St
The Merry Monarch major surprise to most observers, including, it was reported, the winner's own connections, who had believed that their other runner, Doleful, had the better chance of winning. In July, The Merry Monarch was sent to Goodwood for the Gratwicke Stakes. He finished second, beaten a head by Hersey, a mare whose only previous win had come in a "fifty pound plate". Despite his defeat, The Merry Monarch remained among the leading fancies for the St Leger, but he did not appear again that year. The Merry Monarch's prize of £3,975 for the Derby was enough to make him the third