History of the Kings & Queens of England and Scotland

HISTORY

OF THE

KINGS & QUEENS OF ENGLAND

AND SCOTLAND;

FORM THE REIGN OF JAMES THE FIRST TO
VICTORIA THE FIRST.

---

PART II.

---

GEORGE THE FOURTH.

GLASGOW:
PRINTED FOR THE BOOKSELLERS.

134.

HISTORY

OF THE

KINGS & QUEENS OF ENGLAND.

---

JAMES I.

Born 1560.			Began to Reign March 24, 1603.
Died Mar. 27. 1625.			Reigned 22 Years.

James First of England, and Sixth of Scotland, son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Henry Stuart, Earl of Darnley, was the first English king of the Stuart race. Soon after his accession a plot was formed by the Catholics for blowing up the parliament-house with gunpowder, at the opening of parliament, when the King, Lords, and Commons, together with the Queen, and Prince of Wales were assembled. This plot was discovered, and some of the conspirators died in endeavouring to defend themselves; others were executed, and some pardoned by the king. The fifth of November, the day on which the plot was discovered, is still ob- served as a holiday at the public offices. The nation, which had formed a high opinion of the king’s sagacity, in the discovery of the gunpowder- plot, soon changed its opinion in consequence of the folly which he displayed in giving himself up to the guidance of unworthy favorites, one of the first of whom was Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset, and after- wards George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. The greatest stain upon the character of James, is his treatment of the celebrated Sir Walter Raleigh, who, after being many years confined upon a charge of conspiracy, was released to take the command of a voyage of discovery, which proving unsuccesful, he was on his return taken up and executed upon his old sentence.

The king’s prodigality having exhausted his ex- chequer, he was obliged to apply to parliament for supplies, when the Commons took occasion to make encroachments on the royal prerogative, which ori- ginated the struggle, that ended in the death of his successor. The king having engaged in war to assist his son-in-law, the Elector-palatine, who had taken up arms against the Emperor, expeditions were fitted out for Holland, and France, which proved unsuccessful. What effect James’s misfor- tunes had upon his constitution is uncertain, but soon after the failure of these expeditions he was seized with a tertian ague, of which he died on the 27th of March, 1625, in the fifty-ninth year of his age, and twenty-second of his reign over England; having reigned thirty-six years over Scotland pre- vious to his accession to the English throne.

CHARLES I.

Born 1600.			Began to Reign March 27, 1625.
Died Jan. 30. 1649.			Reigned 23¾ Years.

Succeeded his father, James I. Upon his accession he found himself engaged in a war for the defence of his brother-in-law, the Elector-palatine; but the subsidies granted by parliament not being sufficient to enable him to carry it on, and after attempting to raise money by unconstitutional methods, he called a new parliament. The new parliament not being more liberal in its grants than its predecessor, he had again recourse to unconstitutional methods of raising supplies. Buckingham, as great a favorite of Charles as he had been of his father, was sent with a fleet to relieve Rochelle, which completely failed; while at home, the disputes between the king and parliament became more violent. After the death of Buckingham, who fell by the hand of an assassin, the king made peace with France and Spain, and assisted by Lord Strafford and Archbishop Laud, made it apparent that he intended to govern without a parliament. The national discontent increased, and as if the discontent in England was not enough, Charles and his councillors attempted to introduce Episcopacy into Scotland; when the Scots, rather than submit, had recourse to arms. For the purpose of obtaining supplies, after other methods had failed, he held first one parliament, then another: the last was the celebrated Long Parliament. This parliament commenced measures which ended in the execution of Lord Strafford, abolished certain obnoxious courts, deprived the crown of many of its prerogatives, and broke out into an open rupture with the king, success sometimes attending one side, sometimes another, until the battle of Marston Moor, when the king’s misfortunes commenced. Laud, who had been sent to tho tower at the commencement of the war, was executed, and Episcopacy abolished.

Charles, after the battle of Naseby, gave himself up to the Scottish army, which some time before had joined the Parliamentarians, and was by them delivered into the hands of his enemies. After being confined in different places, and attempting to make his escape from Hampton Court, he was at last brought to London, where he was tried and condemned. He was executed on the thirtieth of January, 1649, in the forty-ninth year of his age, and twenty-fourth of his reign. The person of Charles was of the middle size, robust, and well made; with a pleasing, though melancholy countenance, which might be occasioned by the misfortunes he had suffered.

THE COMMONWEALTH.—OLIVER
CROMWELL.

Born 1599.			Became Lord Protector Dec. 16, 1653.
Died Sep. 3, 1658.			Ruled 4¾ Years.

After the death of Charles I., his son Charles being invited by the Scots to become their king, Oliver Cromwell went with an army into Scotland, where he entirely defeated the Scots army, Charles with another army having entered England, was again overcome by Cromwell at Worcester; Charles with difficulty escaping into France. Cromwell, having abolished the Long Parliament, was at length elevated to the supreme power by the title of Lord Protector. He was distinguished for the ability with which he conducted affairs both at home and abroad. He retained the supreme power until his death, and was succeeded by his son Richard, who in a short time resigned; the nation by this time being prepared for the return of Charles II.

Eminent men during the Commonwealth:—Admiral Blake; Generals Fairfax and Monk; Sir H. Vane; John Milton.

CHARLES II.

Born 1630.			Began to Reign May 29, 1660.
Died Feb. 6, 1685.			Reigned 24¾ Years.

Soon after his coming to the throne, an act of indemnity was passed, from which those who had an immediate hand in the death of the late king were excepted. He also, contrary to the advice of his wisest councillors, married Catharine, Infanta of Portugal, his motive being to secure the dowry of this princess: the expences attending his profligate pleasures rendering this necessary. It was probably from the same motive that he declared war against the Dutch, which after being carried on with great fury for several years, was put a stop to by the treaty of Breda. Having got rid of Chancellor Clarendon, he took for his advisers a set of men known by the designation of the Cabal. The measures of the king and his advisers produced great discontent in the country; which the plague in London in 1665, and the great fire in the succeeding year tended to increase: the people ascribing the latter to the papists. The nation was long agitated with the proceeding about the popish plot, as it was called, which was followed by others through the whole course of this reign.

Party spirit ran high toward the conclusion of this reign. Fitzharris, a noted manufacturer of libels, was imprisoned by the king, whilst his cause was espoused by the Commons; and a dispute took place between the Lords and Commons regarding the manner in which he should be tried. The king, taking advantage of their disputes, dissolved the parliament, without ever intending to call another; and by this unexpected measure put an end to parliamentary commotions. He oppressed the Presbyterians and others opposed to the government, and gave the places, of such of them as had places, to the friends of high prerogative. He also deprived the city of London of its charter, which was only restored upon the most abject submission. Fitzharris, formerly mentioned, and others were put to death. Whilst the power of the crown had become irresistible, and many saw no other means of safety but submission, there was a party still resolved to make a vigorous attempt for the restoration of freedom. Amongst the most eminent of these were Lord Russell and Algernon Sydney, who were taken up as being concerned in a pretended plot, and after a mock trial, executed. But just when Charles had established as despotic a government as any in Europe, he was seized with a sudden illness, and died in the fifty-fifth year of his age, and twenty-fifth of his reign.

Eminent men in this reign:—Hyde, Earl of Clarendon; Villiers, Duke of Buckingham; Algernon Sydney; Lord Russell; Wilmot, Earl of Rochester; John Dryden.

JAMES II.

Born 1633.			Began to Reign Feb. 6, 1685.
Abdicated the throne Jan. 22, 1680.			Reigned 4 Years.

Succeeded his brother, Charles II., and immediately began to take steps for reconciling his kingdom to the Church of Rome. The Duke of Monmouth, a natural son of the late king, who had retired to Holland on account of his connexion with one of the plots of last reign, landed in England, and claimed the throne; but being unsuccessful, was taken and executed, and his followers treated with unheard of cruelties. After this James proceeded openly with his designs for establishing popery; the people became discontented, the army deserted him, seven of the bishops were tried for opposing some of his measures, and were acquitted, and the Prince of Orange having landed, he was forced to abdicate the throne, and leave the kingdom. He retired to France, where he died in 1700.

Eminent men in this reign:—Duke of Monmouth; Judge Jeffries; Saville, Marquis of Halifax; John Locke.

WILLIAM III.

Born 1650.			Began to Reign Jan 22, 1689.
Died March 8, 1702.			Reigned 13 Years.

After the abdication of James, it was agreed that William, Prince of Orange, nephew and son-in-law of James, who landed in England on the fifth of November, 1688, and Mary, his wife, should reign jointly; the administration of government being placed in the hands of the prince. At the beginning of his reign, William, who was averse to religious persecution, made an attempt to alter the laws regarding uniformity of worship. Although he did not succeed to the extent of his wishes, yet a toleration was granted to dissenters on certain conditions. Whilst he was thus engaged, James, the abdicated monarch, whose authority was still extensively acknowledged in Ireland, landed in that kingdom on the twenty-second of May, 1690, where he found Tyrconnell, the lord lieutenant, and an army amounting to nearly forty thousand men, devoted to his interest. As soon as the season admitted, he besieged Londonderry; the besieged enduring great hardships, from which they were at last relieved, by a store-ship breaking the boom laid across the river to hinder a supply. The army of James after this abandoned the siege, having lost about nine thousand men. William, having gone to head the protestant army, the rival kings met at the river Boyne: the two armies being inflamed with religious animosity and hatred. William immediately upon his arrival narrowly escaped being killed by a shot from a cannon privately planted against him by the enemy, which killed several of his attendants, and slightly wounded himself. Early next morning, William's army forced a passage over the river, and the battle commenced with great vigour, After an obstinate resistance, the Irish fled, followed by their French and Swiss auxiliaries. This victory was almost decisive, although the death of the Duke of Schomborg was severely felt by the protestant party.

After one or two more stands, William succeeded in reducing Ireland, and James returned to France, where he died in 1700. William, after endeavouring to preserve as much as he could of the royal prerogative, gave up the contest, and was for the most part of his reign engaged in carrying on war with France, which was terminated by the treaty of Ryswick in 1697. William died on the eighth of March, 1702, in consequence of a fall from his horse, in the fifty-second year of his age, and thirteenth of his reign: Mary, his consort, died some years before him.

Eminent men in this reign:—Duke of Schomborg; Montague, Earl of Halifax; Lord Somers; Archbishop Tillotson; Bishop Burnet; Sir Isaac Newton.

ANNE.

Born 1664.			Began to Reign March 8, 1702.
Died Aug. 1, 1714.			Reigned 12½ Years.

Second daughter of James II., and wife of George, Prince of Denmark, now ascended the throne, to the satisfaction of all parties. Anne declared war with France, in which she was followed by the Dutch. The Duke of Marlborough was made general of the English forces, and generalissimo of the allied army, and became a very formidable enemy of France. A series of splendid victories were achieved by the allies, of which the chief was that of Blenhiem. For this victory, one of the greatest ever won by England, the Duke of Marlborough was rewarded by the gift of a large estate and splendid mansion. Another conquest which has ultimately turned out of much more importance to England, was the taking of Gibraltar by Sir Cloudsley Shovel and Sir George Rook. Philip IV., grandson of Louis XIV, being placed upon the throne of Spain, notwithstanding a treaty formerly entered into by the powers of Europe, by which Charles, son of the Emperor of Germany, had been appointed to succeed, an English army under the command of the Earl of Peterborough was sent to support Charles, and was at first successful; but Peterborough being recalled, the English were completely defeated, and Philip firmly established on the throne. An event of great importance took place in 1707; this was the union between England and Scotland, which, although long governed by the same sovereign, until now had remained separate kingdoms.

The Whigs, to which party the Duke of Marlborough belonged, and who had been in office from the commencement of this reign, had for some time been on the decline, and soon after the Union were succeeded by their rivals the Tories: their downfall was principally occasioned by the queen’s dislike to them. Anne, who was led by her favourites, had long been influenced by the Duchess of Marlborough, but she was succeeded by another favourite, who used her influence on behalf of the Tories. This triumph was accelerated by certain proceedings against Sacheverell, a clergyman, and defender of high prerogative opinions, and who had become very popular. The Duke of Marlborough was recalled in the midst of brilliant success, and a peace concluded with France. But whilst the Whigs were attacking the Tories, and the Tories were divided amongst themselves, the queen’s constitution gave way, and she died on the first of August, 1714; after having reigned more than twelve years over a people that had now risen to a high degree of refinement and opulence.

GEORGE I.

Born 1660.			Began to Reign August 1, 1714.
Died June 11, 1727.			Reigned 12¾ Years.

Anne was succeeded by George, Elector of Hanover, son of the Princess Sophia, grand-daughter of James I. Immediately after his succession the Whigs were restored to power, and proceedings set afoot against some of the leading members of the late administration: Lord Oxford the chief of them was set at liberty, whilst some of the others went into exile. The Pretender, son of James II., landed in Scotland in 1715, after some attempts were made in his favour; but seeing no prospect of success, soon after returned to France. The king in 1727, being desirous of visiting his electoral dominions, set out for the continent, and upon his landing in Holland, stopt at a little village called Voet, and in two days more arrived at Delden, where he was taken ill, and died in the sixty-eighth year of his age, and thirteenth of his reign.

Eminent men in this reign:—Sir William Windham; Sir Robert Walpole: Bishop Atterbury.

GEORGE II.

Born 1683.			Began to Reign June 11, 1727.
Died Oct. 25, 1760.			Reigned 33¼ Years.

Succeeded his father, George I. After the commencement of this reign, great complaints were made by the nation of cruelties committed by the Spaniards, but the war with which the country was threatened was for some time averted, by a treaty concluded at Vienna. An interval of peace succeeded for some years, but was at length broken by war with Spain; when Porto-Bello was taken by Admiral Vernon. Commodore Anson was also sent out with a squadron to annoy the Spaniards in the South Seas, and after the loss of great part of his squadron, succeeded in capturing a rich Spanish treasure ship; and returned at the end of three years, having circumnavigated the globe. An expedition was also sent out against Carthagena, which terminated disastrously. The Emperor dying in 1740, the French caused the Elector of Bavaria to be crowned emperor, thus setting aside the claims of the Queen of Hungary, daughter of the late emperor. George espoused her cause, and an English and Hanoverian army was sent into the Netherlands, of which he took the command, and gained the battle of Dettingen; but his son, the Duke of Cumberland, was unsuccessful at Fontenoy.

In 1745, Charles, son of the old Pretender, landed in Scotland, for the purpose of making an attempt to gain the crown of his ancestors. After proclaiming his father king at Perth and Edinburgh, and defeating Sir J. Cope at Prestonpans, he marched into England, to within a hundred miles of the metropolis. He then returned into Scotland, and overcame General Hawley at Falkirk, but was at last defeated by the Duke of Cumberland at Culoden, and after suffering great hardships, made his escape into France; and some of his adherents being taken, suffered death as traitors. The war was put an end to by the treaty of Aix-la-chapelle. This treaty was little more than a temporary truce, as war was soon revived with the French, for the possession of Canada. This war at its commencement was unsuccessful, but the celebrated William Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham, being placed at the head of affairs, under his auspices Quebec was taken by the gallant Wolfe, who died in the hour of victory: this led to the possession of Canada, &c. The country after this was plunged into a continental war; and while victory was attending its arms by sea and land, the king was suddenly taken ill, and died on the twenty-fifth of October, 1760, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, and thirty-third of his reign.

GEORGE III.

Born 1738.			Began to Reign Oct. 25, 1760.
Died Jan. 29, 1820.			Reigned 59 Years.

Son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, succeeded his grandfather, George II. The Earl of Bute in a short time was placed at the head of the administration; and although the war continued to be successfully carried on, it was terminated by an unpopular peace in 1763, and was succeeded by a time of popular discontent. The disputes with our American colonies, which had commenced before this, still continued, and the first blood was shed at Lexington on the nineteenth of April, 1775. The contest now seemed inevitable; preparations were made by the Americans on every hand, whilst re-inforcements were sent to the army from Britain. An engagement took place at Bunker's hill, and although the Americans were worsted, both sides suffered severely. George Washington was elected general of the American army, and Congress, which had assembled some time before, published a declaration of independence on the fourth of July, 1776. The Americans were unsuccessful in the south, but in the north, General Burgoyne surrendered to General Gates at Saratoga, who after this was enabled to send reinforcements to Washington in the south, which made him more than a match for his opponents. France after this acknowledged the independence of the United States, and was followed by Spain and Holland.

In 1780 some serious riots took place in London, in consequence of the repeal of certain penal laws against the Roman Catholics, when after destroying Romish chapels, burning the prisons, &c., the mob were dispersed after a great many of their numbers were killed and wounded. In America Lord Cornwallis was attacked by the armies of France and America at York-town, and forced to surrender. The French navy was almost entirely destroyed by Rodney's victory over Count de Grasse, in the West Indies. At home, Lord North, not being supported by parliament, resigned; and after other ministerial changes, the independence of the United States was acknowledged, and peace concluded in 1783. After this, the celebrated William Pitt, second son of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, came into office. In 1788 the king was seized with a serious illness, which unfitted him for the duties of government; and after some warm debates about a regency, he unexpectedly recovered. After this, one of the most important events recorded in history took place; that is the French Revolution, to attempt to give any account of which would far exceed our limits; suffice it to say, that it produced a war in which Great Britain took a prominent part. The French, who had put their king and his queen to death, and established a republic, were generally successful by land; the British, on the other hand, being victorious at sea, until peace was concluded at Amiens in 1802. After a rebellion had been suppressed, a legislative union took place between Great Britain and Ireland, which commenced January first, 1800. Before the peace, Napoleon Bonaparte had risen to eminence in France, and was now at the head of the government, by the title of first consul.

The peace was of very short continuance, as war broke out again in 1803. Bonaparte commenced the war with great vigour and soon succeeded in shutting out Britain from the continent, after having assumed the title of emperor. The naval triumphs of Britain were now consummated by the victory of Trafalgar, which was dearly won, as Lord Nelson lost his life. After being victorious over the Austrians at Austerlitz, and the Prussians at Jena, Napoleon had arrived at the highest pinnacle of power; but he was soon destined to meet with great reverses. In 1810 the king was attacked by that malady from which he formerly suffered; and the Prince of Wales was placed at the head of government, with the title of Prince Regent. It was under the regency that Napoleon, after suffering great reverses in Spain and Russia, was compelled to abdicate his throne, and after an attempt to regain it, was finally overcome by the allied army, commanded by the Duke of Wellington, at Waterloo. George III. died at Windsor on the twenty-ninth of January, 1820, in the eighty-second year of his age: his son, the Duke of Kent, died on the twenty-third of the same month.

GEORGE IV.

Born 1762.			Began to Reign Jan. 29, 1820.
Died June 25, 1830.			Reigned 10 Years.

Having been several years in posssession of sovereign power, his accession to the throne produced no political change of importance. He married, in 1795, his cousin, Caroline of Brunswick; but a separation soon took place, and a secret investigation into her conduct, some years afterwards, terminated in acquittal. After this, she quitted England, and spent her time mostly in travelling. On the king's accession to the throne, some evidence collected by a commission which had sat at Milan, was made a pretext for omitting her name in the Liturgy, and thereby refusing her the honour due to her rank. Having determined to return to England, she arrived in London on the very day that a message was sent to both houses of parliament, demanding that her conduct should be made the subject of investigation. A bill of pains and penalties was introduced into the Lords, and the trial lasted forty_five days; but on the third reading of the bill, ministers having a very small majority, abandoned it. Whilst these proceedings continued, the public mind was greatly agitated, and continued so during the remainder of the life of that unfortunate lady. The coronation of the king took place in August, 1821, when the queen’s claim to participate in that ceremony being rejected, she presented herself at the doors of Westminster Abbey, and was refused admittance; when the ceremony went on without interruption. Her death soon followed this event.

Immediately after his coronation, his majesty visited Dublin, where he met with a most loyal welcome. Shortly after his return, he visited his Hanoverian dominions, and after a short stay returned to England. After the termination of the session of parliament in 1822, he visited Edinburgh, where he was received by all classes of his Scottish subjects, with the greatest enthusiasm. Nothing of sufficient importance occurred abroad to be noticed in this summary. The Duke of York, heir presumptive to the throne, died January fifth, 1827, sincerely lamented by the army, of which he had long been commander-in-chief, and had deservedly acquired the appellation of “the soldiers’ friend.” After this, the domestic event of greatest importance that took place, was the Roman Catholic emancipation act, which removed certain disabilities under which they laboured; the bill having received the royal assent on the thirteenth of April, 1829. George IV. died at Windsor Castle on the twenty-fifth of June, 1830, having reigned ten years; but previous to his father’s death, he held supreme power for about ten years, under the title of Prince Regent.

WILLIAM IV.

Born 1765.			Began to Reign June 25, 1830.
Died Jan. 20, 1837.			Reigned 7 Years.

Succeeded his brother George, to the general satisfaction of all classes of his subjects. During his whole reign of nearly seven years, the nation enjoyed tranquillity both at home and abroad. The most important event of this reign, indeed, the most important political occurrence since the revolution, was the passing of the reform bill in 1832. William for some time continued his brother's ministers in office; but the demand for a reform in the representation of the people, which had long been made, could no longer be resisted, and the premier, the Duke of Wellington, having declared himself opposed to any measure of reform, the Whigs, with Earl Grey, at their head, were called to office, and immediately introduced the reform bill, which, after a hard contest, they succeeded in carrying. William died on the twentieth of January, 1837; having reigned nearly seven years

VICTORIA.

Born May 24, 1819.			Began to Reign Jan. 20, 1839.

Only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, succeeded her uncle, William IV. On her accession, all parties and classes of her subjects united in testifying their affection for their youthful sovereign. Her majesty was married February 10th, 1840, to Prince Albert, second son of Ernest, Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gotha; and has issue, Victoria Adelaide Maria Louisa, Princess Royal, born November 21st, 1840; Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, born November 9th, 1841; Princess Alice Maud Mary, born April 25th, 1843; Prince Alfred Ernest Albert, born August 6th, 1844. Long live the Queen. May her reign be prosperous.

The number of eminent men who have flourished in the last three reigns, has been so great, and their names so well known, that we have declined making a choice, and therefore have omitted them altogether.