Queen Victoria

Alexandrina Victoria was born on 24th May 1819, the only child of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, the fourth son of King George III. When King William IV died in 1837, Victoria’s father was already dead, and more importantly, all of her father’s brothers had also died, but in their case leaving no surviving, legitimate heirs. And so, at the tender age of 18, Victoria became Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

By 1837, the industrial revolution was now well under way. The railways were expanding rapidly across the country, and ever larger steamships were being built of iron to cross the world’s oceans. More importantly for us philatelists, the Uniform Penny Post and the renowned Penny Black and less well known Two Pence Blue were just around the corner!

Victoria became Queen on 20th June 1837, and reigned for 63 years, 7 months, and 2 days, right up to her death on 22nd January 1901. This period is now known affectionately as the Victorian era, a time which most of us can readily trace our ancestors back to - the Victorians.