Expert: Mark Smith - 3/19/2010

Question
1. Who would have succeeded William IV if Victoria had died in 1836?
2. What children was was that person survived by?

Answer
Hello Brian.
If Victoria had died before William IV the Crown would have passed to William's younger brother Ernest, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale (born 1771). He did in fact succeed William as King of Hanover in 1837 as the Hanoverian Constitution excluded women from inheriting the Throne. He died in 1851 aged 80. He was succeeded as King of Hanover by his only child George (born 1819, died 1878), although he lost the Hanoverian Crown when his country was annexed by Prussia in 1866. He has descendents living today.
Mark