Queen Victoria, 1837-1901

She married Albert, Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Their Children were: Victoria, Edward, Alice, Alfred, Helena, Louise, Arthur, Leopold and Beatrice.

Victoria was crowned in 1837 by William Howley, Archbishop of Canterbury on the 28th June 1838 at Westminster Abbey, London, a month after she came of age, and released the country from a Regency by her unpopular mother. After marrying Albert, Victoria settled down to a frequently troubled reign, but always had a knack for survival. She became known as the Grandmother of Europe after marrying her family into every Royal House in Europe. She also gained a huge Empire.

The Victorian Era saw numerous innovations in Science, Technology and the Humanities. Great Britain became the most powerful nation in the world in terms of both military and industrial prowess. The fact that most, if not all, the members of today's European monarchies can trace their ancestry back to Victoria may well be an indication of this power.

Queen Victoria was styled as "By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith," until in 1877 when her style became "By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India".

The composer Felix Mendelsshon wrote that Victoria had the finest singing voice of any amateur he'd ever heard. Victoria was a very skilled amateur artist, her sketches were very detailed and her water colours were extremely well done. Victoria published two books "Leaves from the Journal of Our Life in the Highland", in 1868, and "More Leaves from the Journal of A Life in the Highlands", in 1884.

The desk still used by the President of the United States in the White House's Oval Office was a gift from Queen Victoria. She had it carved from the timbers of the H.M.S. Resolute, for presentation to President Rutherford B Hayes.

Victoria, British Columbia, was named after the queen, as were Victoria Island in the Northwest Territories and Regina, Saskatchewan. The Victoria Falls were named after the queen, as was Lake Victoria. In 1841, explorer James Ross named Victoria Land, Antarctica, after Queen Victoria. Portrayed by Anna Neagle in the 1937 film, "Victoria the Great". Anna Neagle also played Victoria in the 1937 sequel "Sixty Glorious Years". Portrayed by Irene Dunne in the 1950 film, "The Mudlark".

Victoria died on the 22nd of January 1901 at the age of 82 from natural causes in Osbourne House, Isle of Wight, England. She is buried at Windsor, Berkshire, England. Her funeral was attended by Kings, Queens, Princes, Dukes and Lords from all around the world.

She died after reigning for 63 years, she was the longest reigning British monarch after ruling over a British Empire that covered a quarter of the globe.