Expert: Mark Smith - 1/22/2009

Question
Mark,
   I've heard on the TV tonight that William IV was Known as Silly Billy. What did he do wrong to be given this name?

Answer
Hello Adrian.
It came from his rather buffonish behaviour as a young man. He joined the Royal Navy at the age of 13 and was therefore away from the strictness of the Royal Court for most of his teenage years. As a result he became rather wild in his behaviour and was thought of as a little stupid as his education had been cut short at 13.
Not surprisingly he preferred to be known as the Sailor King or Sailor Billy.
Mark