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King George V of Great Britain and Ireland

Contribution
Melissa Sogegian
Western High School
Davie, Florida
Teacher: Mike Mullin
Grade 10
Photo
1865-1936

General Information

George Frederick Ernest Albert, better known as King George V, was the king of Britain during World War I. He was born in 1865 as second son of King Edward VII and the grandson of Queen Victoria. From the early age of 12, he was trained for a career in the Royal Navy, eventually rising to the rank of Commander. His older brother died and he gained heir to the throne. At the age of 26, he had already acquired personal knowledge of outlying British lands that he had learned in the Royal Navy.

In 1893 he married the daughter of the Duke of Teck; Mary. Together they had five children who held court: King Edward VIII; Albert, Duke of York, later King George VI (upon Edward's abdication); the Duke of Gloucester; the Duke of Kent; and Mary, Countess of Harewood.

It was he who changed the name of the royal house from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor. In 1917, during World War I, he gave up the royal family's connections to all things German including titles. In 1911, George traveled to India for a ceremony to cement ties with that colony. May of 1935 was celebrated as the silver jubilee of his reign. He died on 20-Jan-1936. He was succeeded to the throne by his son, Edward VIII.


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