KING GEORGE IV (GREAT BRITAIN) - ROYAL WARRANT SIGNED 10/26/1811 CO-SIGNED BY: MARQUIS RICHARD C. WELLESLEY - HFSID 57294

KING GEORGE IV of the UNITED KINGDOM
The then-Prince Regent and his Foreign Affairs Secretary sign appointment for the British Legation to the King of Two Sicilies
Royal Warrant signed: "George R[ex]" as King George of the United Kingdom and "Wellesley" as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. 1 page, 12½x8, tied with black ribbon to a 4-page (front and verso) attachment in Latin. Paper seal in left margin affixed with red wax. Windsor Castle, Windsor, England. October 26, 1811. In full: "Our Will and Pleasure is, that you forthwith cause the Great Seal of Great Britain to be affixed to an Instrument bearing date with these Presents (a Copy whereof is hereunto annexed) containing a Commission constituting and appointing Our Trusty and Well beloved Frederick Lamb Esquire, to be Secretary to His Majesty's Legation to His Good Brother The King of the Two Sicilies - And for so doing, this shall be your Warrant". KING GEORGE IV (1762-1830, reigned from 1820) served as Regent of Great Britain from 1811, when his father, George III, was declared insane. As Prince of Wales he had very poor relationships both with his father, and with his wife, Princess Caroline of Brunswick, whom he forbade to attend his coronation and tried to divorce. As Regent, however, his choice of cabinet helped conclude the Napoleonic Wars (1815). War's end brought both peace and depression when government demand for supplies ceased. Prices fell and thousands became unemployed, instigating the first labor unions. He took steps to curb the depression with such acts as the Corn Law (1815). During his reign as King of Great Britain & Ireland (1820-1830), George IV's appreciation of the arts led to the development of Regent Street and Regent's Park and the restoration of Windsor Castle. He also initiated penal code reform and abolition of the death penalty (1822). George became increasingly unpopular, due in part to his lavish expenditures. His visit to Scotland in 1822 was the first by a British monarch since 1650. RICHARD WELLESLEY, First Marquess of Wellesley (1760-1842) was the brother of Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, whose achievements included the final triumph over Napoleon at Waterloo. Richard Wellesley served as Governor General of India (1798-1805), during which he destroyed remaining French influence there and consolidated British rule. He was Foreign Secretary during the climactic phase of the Napoleonic Wars (1809-1812), signing here in that capacity; and would later serve as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1821-1828, 1833-1834). Three horizontal folds. Lightly worn. Lightly soiled. Slightly creased. Otherwise, fine condition.