The
Georgian era of
British history is a period which takes its name from, and is normally defined as spanning the reigns of the first four
Hanoverian kings of
Great Britain who were all named George:
George I,
George II,
George III and
George IV. The era covers the period from 1714 to 1830, with the sub-period of
the Regency defined by the Regency of George IV as
Prince of Wales during the illness of his father George III. The definition of the Georgian era is often extended to include the short reign of
William IV, which ended with his death in 1837. The last Hanoverian monarch of the
United Kingdom was William's niece
Queen Victoria, who is the namesake of the following historical era, the
Victorian, which is usually defined as occurring from the start of her reign, when William died, and continuing until her death.