Biography of Victoria Alexandrina


Index

Victoria Alexandrina. Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India. Born in 1819, daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George III. Crowned on June 28, 1838. She married, in 1840, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, who died in 1861, by whom she had nine children. The chief events of the reign were the establishment of the penny post, the repeal of the corn laws, the annexation of the Punjab, the great exhibition, the Crimean War, the Indian mutiny, followed by the assumption of sovereignty over India, the second and third reform bills, wars in Afghanistan, China, South Africa, and Egypt, and the Fenian and home rule agitations in Ireland. The jubilee of the queen's accession was celebrated in 1887, and her diamond jubilee in 1897. Five attempts were made on her life, in 1840, 1842 (three), and 1882. She died at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, in 1901.