Kings and Queens of Great Britain 1714 - 1911
My research starts during the reign of George I (Georg Ludwig) of Great Britain 1 August 1714- 11 June 1727, at the age of 54 George was the 1st Monarch to reign from the House of Hanover. In 1701 the Act of Settlement was passed by parliament to prohibit Catholics from inheriting the British throne. When Queen Ann of Britain passed away George Ludwig was her closest Protestant relative. In 1715 there was uproar in Scotland and the Jacobites* tried to Supplant George with Ann’s Catholic half-brother James Stuart (the pretender) a rebellion known also as “the fifteen” but their efforts failed.
On the death of his father on 11 June 1727 George II succeeded to the throne until his death on 25 October 1760. George was the last British Monarch to be born outside of the British Isles. In 1745 Charles Edward Stuart; James II’s Grandson also known “Bonnie Prince Charlie” and “The Young Pretender” led the most famous Jacobite rebellion on behalf of his father James Frances Edward Stuart former Prince of Wales.
September 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie defeated the British troops; however there was a lack of support from both the Scottish and British Jacobites. Although Charles had taken Carlisle the progressed as far as Swarkestone Bridge in Derbyshire the decision was made by his council to return to Scotland. King George II’s son; Duke of Cumberland caught up with them at “the battle of Culloden” and defeated the Jacobites on 16 April 1746. Bonnie Prince Charlie fled Scotland and returned to France to live in Exile until his death on 31 January 1788. It was during this time the Murray’s are believed to have left Scotland from Perthshire.
On 25 October 1760 George III (George William Frederick) came to the throne he was King of Great Britain and Ireland until his death on 29 January 1820. He was the 3rd Monarch from the House of Hanover and the first one to have been born in Great Britain, unlike his father and Grandfather his first language was English and although he was King of Hanover he had never once visited.
Upon George III’s death his throne was succeeded by his son George IV (George Augustus Frederick) on 29 January 1820 until his death on 26 June 1830. Due to his father’s illness George was announced and Prince Regent of Great Britain in 1811.
George IV younger brother William Henry became his successor; William IV had a short reign of only 7 years from 26 June 1830 until 20 June 1837. Upon his death at the age of 71 William did not have any surviving legitimate Children to claim the throne, thus he was succeeded by his niece Victoria.
Queen Victoria (Alexandrian Victoria) is currently the longest reigning monarch of Great Britain and Ireland over 63 years and 216 days from 20 June 1837 to 22 January 1901. Victoria was succeeded by Edward VII (Albert Edward) of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha which was later renamed to the Current name of Windsor by his son King George V during the WW1.
The Industrial Revolution
During the 18th and 19th Century there were many major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transport and technology throughout Great Britain and Europe. The Revolution was a major turning point in Human History, the average wage and population began to grow considerably and soon daily life was affected by the revolution and the overall standards of living increased.
By the mid-18th century machines were being used in place of labour and animal based economy, particularly in the textile industry. Steam power was developed by the increase of refined coal, transportation and trade increased due to the introduction of canals and better quality roads and railways.
Railways
In 1698 Thomas Savery patented the first Crude steam engine, the development of steam engines continued throughout 1700’s. The first full scale working railway steam locomotive was built by Richard Trevithick and on 21 February 1804 the world's first railway journey took place near Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales.
Mining
Large scale mining was developed during the Industrial
Revolution, many Coal, Lead and Iron Ore mines were opened up and down the
British Isles. Coal provided the main source of primary energy for Industries
and transportation. During the late 18th century the main techniques of
underground coal mining were developed and further progress was made throughout
the 19th century and early 20th century. Before the revolution small scale
shaft mining, bell pits and drift mining were used, however during the 18th
Century coal was in huge demand so deep shaft mining was developed.
Electricity
In 1792 the first Gas lamp was introduced and by mid-1850’s electricity was being introduced in the streets, they were being lite by “limelight”. In 1880 the first house was lit using Carbon filament light bulbs, before this candles, oil lamps or gas lamps were used.
