Profile of the Day: George V

On this day in 1865, George V was born. He reigned as the King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 1910 until his death in 1936.

Image: George V / Library of Congress

George was born on June 3, 1865 in Marlborough House, London, England. He was the second son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, and Alexandra, Princess of Wales. His father was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and his mother was the eldest daughter of King Christian IX and Queen Louise of Denmark. As the third in line to the throne, after his father and older brother, George was not expected to become king. However, after his brother died of pneumonia in 1892, just six weeks after announcing his engagement to Princess Mary of Teck, George became the second in line to the throne. George and Mary grew close during their time of mourning and a year later, they married at the Chapel Royal in St. James’s Palace.

He was crowned king in 1910 after the death of his father. His reign saw many significant changes throughout the British Empire and Europe. As a result of World War I, the British Empire expanded while the empires of his first cousins, Nicholas II of Russia and Wilhelm II of Germany, had fallen. In 1917, George became the first monarch of the House of Windsor. He had renamed the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha because of the public’s anti-German sentiment.

George died on January 20, 1936 at the age of 70. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward VIII.

Explore George V’s family tree on Geni and share your connection to royalty.

View George V’s Geni Profile