May 24, 2019

Today, May 24, marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Britain’s Queen Victoria in 1819. Victoria was queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death in 1901. The United Kingdom reached the height of its power during this period. It built a great colonial empire that stretched around the world and achieved tremendous industrial expansion at home. The time of Victoria’s reign is often called the Victorian Age.

This portrait shows the United Kingdom’s Queen Victoria in 1897. She was born 200 years ago today on May 24, 1819. Credit: © Thinkstock

This year at Buckingham Palace, the London residence of the British monarch, a special “Queen Victoria’s Palace” exhibition will tell the story of her 63-year reign and display clothing, private rooms, and other personal items related to the queen. Two similar exhibitions—“Victoria: Woman and Crown” and “Victoria: A Royal Childhood”—are taking place at her London birthplace, Kensington Palace. Commemorative stamps have been issued to mark Victoria’s 200th birthday, as have two special 5 pound coins. A special “Queen Victoria 200″ tour will take people to the palaces, castles, and country houses around Britain associated with the queen.

Victoria was the daughter of Edward, the Duke of Kent, the fourth son of King George III. Victoria’s uncle King William IV died on June 20, 1837. He had no heirs, and she succeeded to the throne. The 19-year-old Victoria was crowned queen at Westminster Abbey on June 28, 1838. Lord Melbourne served as her first prime minister and educated her in politics and government.

The “Penny Black” was the world’s first postage stamp in 1840. The British Post Office stamp features a portrait of young Queen Victoria. Credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Many important events took place during Victoria’s reign. The United Kingdom acquired the island of Hong Kong after fighting China in the First Anglo-Chinese War (1839-1842), also known as the First Opium War. The country also fought in the Crimean War (1853-1856) against Russia, and in the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902 to protect its interests in southern Africa.

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During Victoria’s reign (1837-1901), the British Empire grew enormously. Additions included major territories in Africa and southern Asia and smaller territories in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Credit: WORLD BOOK map

In 1858, control of India was transferred from the British East India Company, a trading firm, to the British government. Victoria became empress of India in 1877. The United Kingdom seized control of Egypt and many other areas. British colonies united in Australia and Canada, and these countries became important members of the growing British Empire.

British industries benefited from the expanding empire and made the United Kingdom the richest country in the world. The United Kingdom ended restrictions on foreign trade, and its colonies became both sources of raw materials and markets for its manufactured goods. The United Kingdom was called the workshop of the world. The British Empire included a fourth of the world’s land and a fourth of its people.

In February 1840, Queen Victoria married a cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. They had four sons and five daughters. The prince was a scholar, philanthropist, and businessman, and the people came to respect him. He actively assisted his wife in her royal duties. Albert died in 1861, and Victoria never recovered from her grief at his loss. She withdrew from social activities and dressed in black for many years. Victoria died on Jan. 22, 1901, and her eldest son became King Edward VII.

September 9, 2015

At 5:30 p.m. London time on September 9, 89-year-old Queen Elizabeth II officially became the longest serving monarch in British history. Elizabeth became queen upon the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952. Her record reign—63 years, 216 days, 16 hours, and 23 minutes—broke the record of her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, who ruled the British Empire (presumably for 1 minute less) from 1837 to 1901. In her own right, Victoria broke King George III’s record reign of 59 years (1760 to 1820) on Sept. 23, 1896.

Queen Elizabeth II poses during her coronation at London’s Westminster Abbey in 1953. (© Cecil Beaton, Camera Press/Redux Pictures)

Elizabeth’s endurance record was celebrated in London by a flotilla of ships on the River Thames, sounding guns, horns, and cheers. Prime Minister David Cameron and members of Parliament halted business to attend the tribute to the queen, but Elizabeth was absent, choosing not to toot her own horn. She instead conducted business as usual, opening the Scottish Borders Railway in Tweedbank, Scotland. She gave a short speech, crediting the reign milestone with the simple luck of having lived a long life. Elizabeth thanked well-wishers from around the world before retiring to the royal residence at Balmoral.

So who holds the record for shortest reign? It’s disputed, but Lady Jane Grey’s brief, unhappy 9-day reign is the shortest. Lady Jane was born into turbulent times, reluctantly becoming queen upon the death of her cousin King Edward VI in 1553. Her ambitious half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth both wanted the throne for themselves, however. “Bloody Mary” (Queen Mary I) took control first, having Jane imprisoned and then executed. Mary died just five years later, to be succeeded by Elizabeth, whose 44-year reign ranks 8th in British history.

Other Links

• United Kingdom (1952-a Back in time article)
• United Kingdom (1953-a Back in time article)