William III of England
On the 4th of November 1650, a boy named William Henry was born in The Hague. His father died eight days before the birth from smallpox. This event made William the sovereign Prince of Orange from his first breath. A conflict immediately arose over who would raise him. Mary, Princess Royal, wanted to name her son Charles after her brother. Her mother-in-law insisted on the name William to secure his future as stadtholder. The Supreme Court ruled that guardianship would be shared between his mother, grandmother, and Elector Frederick William of Brandenburg. Mary showed little interest in her son and kept herself apart from Dutch society for years. She died of smallpox at Whitehall Palace in London on the 23rd of December 1660 while visiting her brother King Charles II. The States of Holland took charge of William's education shortly after her death.
The year 1672 became known as the Rampjaar or disaster year for the Dutch Republic. France invaded under Louis XIV alongside England, Münster, and Cologne. The French Army quickly overran Gelderland and Utrecht by June. On the 8th of June, the States ordered the flooding of the Dutch Waterline. William withdrew with his field army into Holland where the inundations were completed by the 7th of July. On the 4th of July, the States of Holland appointed William stadtholder. He took the oath five days later. Lord Arlington presented a proposal from Charles II offering William sovereignty over Holland if he capitulated. William refused and famously stated there was one way to avoid this: to die defending it in the last ditch. The people turned against Grand Pensionary Johan de Witt. De Witt and his brother Cornelis were brutally murdered by an Orangist civil militia in The Hague on the 20th of August. William replaced many regents with his followers and thwarted attempts to prosecute the ringleaders.
William began assembling an expeditionary force in April 1688. Most historians agree he planned the invasion while France remained occupied elsewhere. A group called the Immortal Seven sent him a formal invitation on the 30th of June 1688. His fleet consisted of approximately 463 ships carrying 40,000 men. This force included 9,500 sailors, 11,000 foot soldiers, 4,000 cavalry, and 5,000 English and Huguenot volunteers. William landed at Brixham in southwest England on the 5th of November 1688. He came ashore from the ship Den Briel and proclaimed he would maintain the liberties of England and the Protestant religion. James II attempted to resist but saw his efforts were futile. He threw the Great Seal into the Thames on the 11th of December before fleeing to France. William permitted James to leave the country rather than making him a martyr. This event marked the last successful invasion of England by force of arms.
A Convention Parliament met in England on the 22nd of January 1689 to discuss the throne's vacancy. The House of Commons resolved that the throne was vacant because James had abdicated. On the 13th of February 1689, Parliament passed the Declaration of Right. It deemed that James had fled and left the throne empty. The Crown was offered to William and Mary as joint sovereigns. They were crowned together at Westminster Abbey on the 11th of April 1689 by Henry Compton, Bishop of London. The Bill of Rights was passed in December 1689 and established restrictions on royal power. It stated the Sovereign could not suspend laws or levy taxes without parliamentary consent. The Act also settled succession by placing Anne next in line after either William or Mary died. Roman Catholics were excluded from the throne under these new rules.
William spent extended periods away from Britain fighting the Nine Years' War against France from 1688 to 1697. He led his armies to victory over James II at the Battle of the Boyne on the 1st of July 1690. After returning to England, he left again each spring to fight in Europe. The French defeated the allies at Steenkerke and Landen but suffered heavy losses. William managed to inflict damage that ruled out further major French offensives. The Allies recaptured Namur in 1695 which was considered one of the strongest fortresses in Europe. Economic crisis struck England with rapid inflation causing widespread hunger from 1693 onwards. Taxation doubled due to the war and government mismanagement caused a currency crisis between 1695 and 1697. A run on the Bank of England occurred during this period. William's rule led to these financial struggles despite military successes.
Mary II died of smallpox on the 28th of December 1694 leaving William to rule alone. Rumours grew about William's alleged homosexual inclinations during the 1690s. Hans Willem Bentinck became Earl of Portland and Arnold Joost van Keppel became Earl of Albemarle. These relationships aroused jealousies at court but William dismissed suggestions as criminal. In 1696 Jacobites plotted to assassinate William to restore James. The plan failed and John Fenwick was beheaded in 1697. Charles II of Spain died in late 1700 without children. He willed all Spanish territories to Philip Duke of Anjou. This triggered the War of the Spanish Succession in July 1701. Parliament passed the Act of Settlement 1701 which provided that if Anne died without issue, the Crown would pass to Sophia Electress of Hanover. This Act debarred Roman Catholics from the throne and excluded dozens of closer relatives.
William died aged 51 at Kensington Palace on the 8th of March 1702. His death followed pneumonia which resulted from a broken collarbone after falling from his horse Sorrel. The horse had stumbled into a mole's burrow. Many Jacobites toasted the little gentleman in the black velvet waistcoat who caused the fall. Winston Churchill later wrote that the fall opened the door to lurking foes. William was buried in Westminster Abbey alongside Mary. Anne became queen regnant of England Scotland and Ireland. Five provinces suspended the office of stadtholder after his death. John William Friso inherited the Principality of Orange under William's will. Frederick I of Prussia also claimed the principality as senior cognatic heir. William's primary achievement was containing France when it could impose its will across Europe. His life's aim remained opposing Louis XIV until his final days.
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Common questions
When was William III of England born and what happened to his father?
William Henry was born on the 4th of November 1650 in The Hague. His father died eight days before the birth from smallpox.
How did William III of England become stadtholder of Holland?
The States of Holland appointed William stadtholder on the 4th of July 1672 during the Rampjaar disaster year. He took the oath five days later after refusing to capitulate to Charles II.
What date did William III of England land at Brixham for the Glorious Revolution?
William landed at Brixham in southwest England on the 5th of November 1688. He came ashore from the ship Den Briel with a fleet of approximately 463 ships carrying 40,000 men.
Who were crowned joint sovereigns with William III of England in 1689?
Parliament offered the Crown to William and Mary as joint sovereigns on the 13th of February 1689. They were crowned together at Westminster Abbey on the 11th of April 1689 by Henry Compton, Bishop of London.
When did William III of England die and what caused his death?
William died aged 51 at Kensington Palace on the 8th of March 1702. His death followed pneumonia which resulted from a broken collarbone after falling from his horse Sorrel.