Kings and Queens

George V

Born in 1865 
Ascended in 1910
Died in 1936, aged 70 
Reigned for 25 years
Married to Princess Mary of Teck, bearing 5 sons and 1 daughter.

George V, previously the Prince of Wales, came to the throne on the 7th of May 1910, after the sudden death of his father, Edward VII, the night before. He entered one of the most important political crises that England has seen. His father had become very involved in politics with the new Liberal government that had won an overwhelming majority in 1906. Edward had taken it upon himself to act as conciliator between the powerful Liberals in the House of Commons and the definitely Conservative dominated House of Lords. 

During Edward's reign, the House of Lords had been under attack from the Liberal Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith, because they had blocked many of his welfare reforms (such as the People's Budget). Asquith condemned a situation that he described as an hereditary chamber, blocking the will of the elected chamber.

By the time George came to power, Asquith was asking for several hundred voting Liberal peers to be created in the House of Lords to reflect the wishes of the people. He received much support from the socialist members and from those who supported Irish home rule, so George felt he had to intervene. 

Eventually, parliament agreed on a Bill, The Parliament Act, to curb the power of the House of Lords in favour of the House of Commons (as it is today). This was balanced by a reduction in the life of the elected commons from seven years to five.

Many other political events happened during his reign. The Irish rebelled and were crushed in 1916, but the Irish Free State was formed in the South in 1920. The first Labour government was formed in 1924 and there was the upheaval of the General Strike in 1926 and in 1928. Women over the age of twenty-one were given the right to vote during George's reign. 

Above all these problems, there was also the First World War throughout which George ruled. He was described as being somewhat aloof and remote to his people but was still greatly respected, loved and supported through the war. 
 
George decided to sever all connections with his German cousins and ordered all the English royalty to give up any German titles or favours. The house of Saxe-Coburg was renamed and still remains the House of Windsor. He and his wife, Queen Mary (1867-1953) celebrated their silver Jubilee in 1935 but a year later he died, after a long battle with bronchitis.