Queen Victoria was born on May 24, 1819 in Kensington Palace, London. She was the daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent. After her father’s death she became heir to the throne because her uncles did not have children who survived. After his Uncle William IV’s death, she became queen in 1837 at the age of 18. She was associated with industrial expansion, economic progress and empire in Britain. During her reign, two men influenced her life: Lord Melbourne, first Prime Minister, and Prince Albert, her husband. These two men taught her how to rule in a constitutional monarchy using influence even if she had little power.[1] She began her royal career wishing to be good. She longed not only temporary, but permanent peace of Europe and of the world.[2]
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert got married in 1840, and they had nine children between 1840 and 1857. Albert died in 1861 at the age of 42, which caused Victoria to got depressed. Victoria’s good qualities were honesty, generosity and loyalty which compensate for her display of emotions; these were exceptionally seen during her marriage life.[3] Throughout her reign, she wore black. She barely appeared in front of people and was unwilling to resume a public life again. She died on January 22, 1901 at Osborne house on the Isle of Wight. She reigned to 64 years, which was the longest in British history. [4]
Queen Victoria’s death made a great impression upon the world because of her long reign, pure and noble womanhood, and power for righteousness, and her influence for peace among the nations. This became her uppermost desire of her soul. Although there were many critics about her, she escaped those personal critics, and she won the love of many people in all lands.[5] Her influence and popularity was well taken seriously to heart by many English people and her desire for peace deepened her to the last.
Bibliography
Costigan, Giovanni. “Queen Victoria: From Her Birth to the Death of the Prince Consort.”
The American Historical Review 78, no. 5 (1973): 1463-1464. doi: 10.2307/1854144
“Queen Victoria’s Death.” The Advocate of Peace 63, no.2 (1901): 25-26,
Victoria. The British Monarchy. Last modified 2009.
[1] Victoria, The British Monarchy, last modified 2009, http://www.royal.gov.uk/historyofthemonarchy/kingsandqueensoftheunitedkingdom/thehanoverians/victoria.aspx
[2] “Queen Victoria’s Death,” The Advocate of Peace 63, no.2 (1901): 25.
[3] Giovanni Costigan, “Queen Victoria: From Her Birth to to the Death of the Prince Consort,” The American Historical Review 78, no. 5 (1973):1464. doi: 10.2307/1854144
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid., 25-26.
World History 
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