WILLIAM IV., KING OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
Arms.—Within the Garter and with the collar and badge of the order. Quarterly.
1st and 4th, England.
2nd, Scotland.
3rd, Ireland.
And on an escutcheon of pretence, ensigned with the Royal Crown of Hanover, the arms of the Dominions in Germany, as used by George III. (q.v.) after 1816.
Crest.—A Royal crown ppr., thereon a lion statant or, crowned ppr.
Helmet.—That of a King.
Supporters.—A lion and a unicorn, as used by James I. (q.v.).
Motto.—Dieu et mon droit.
Badges.—Tudor Rose, Thistle, and Shamrock.
[Inventories of the various Services of Plate belonging to the Crown. London, 1832.]
Variety.—The Royal Cypher "WR IIII." (William Rex IIII.) within the Garter and ensigned with a Royal Crown.
[Delpech. Iconographie des contemporains. Paris, 1832.]
William, Duke of Clarence (born 21st August 1763, died 20th June 1837), was the third son of George III., and succeeded his brother George IV. on the throne of England in 1830. He was parsimonious, and the economy used at his coronation was so marked that it was called a "Half Crown-ation." William IV. married Adelaide, daughter of George Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, and their two daughters died as children.
The Royal Libraries were twice given to the Nation, once by George II., on the foundation of the British Museum, and again by George IV., after the death of his father. William IV. evidently thought that there had been enough generosity in this matter on the part of his predecessors, and he added to his will an autograph codicil, dated "Pavillion, Brighton, 30th November 1834," to the effect that "I further declare that all the Books, Drawings, and Plans collected in all the Palaces shall forever continue heirlooms to the Crown, and on no pretence whatever to be alienated from the Crown."
