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Penlee
Point stands at the entrance to Plymouth Sound, and on its slopes can be
seen the remains of what appears to be a mediaeval Chapel, very similar
to the one on the neighbouring Rame Head. The
chapel is however a folly built in the early 19th century for Princess
Adelaide. The Princess was the wife of the then Prince William who became William
IV in 1830. She stayed in nearby Mount Edgcumbe and enjoyed greatly walks
along the coast to Penlee point. Adelaide
was a German Princess of Saxe-Meiningen and married William after he unexpectedly
came into the line of succession. She had two daughters, both of whom died
in infancy leaving William's niece, Victoria to succeed him. Prior
to this marriage to Adelaide William had 10 illegitimate children by the
actress Dorothea Jordan.
William IV reigned
from 1830 to 1837 and was also King of Hanover, a throne that passed
to his brother on his death.He was the third son of King George III and
served in the Royal Navy from 1779 to 1787. This service earned him
the nickname the sailor king .He was known to be eccentric, not very intellegent
but well intentioned.
His reign was one of social
reform marked by the passing of the Great Reform act of 1832. It was enacted
after William finally agreed to create, if necessary, a sufficient number
of new Whig peers to overcome the majority opposed to the bill in the House
of Lords. Other reforms included the abolition of slavery in the British
Empire and the first factory act.
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