Images Dated 17th March 2007

Proclamation of George I as King of Great Britain and Ireland, 1714.Artist: W Thomas

Proclamation of George I as King of Great Britain and Ireland, 1714. George, Elector of Hanover and Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg (1660-1727), became heir to the British throne in 1714 under the terms of the Act of Settlement of 1701, which stipulated that the monarch had to be a Protestant. The first Hanoverian King of Great Britain and Ireland, George I ruled from 1714 until his death

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Flight of Matilda from Oxford, 1142 (1789). Artist: Unknown

Flight of Matilda from Oxford, 1142 (1789). Stephen (1096-1154), the last Norman King of England, reigned from 1135 to 1154. He supported the claim to the throne of Matilda (1102-1167), the daughter of Henry I, before usurping her when Henry died in 1135 and claiming the throne for himself. England descended into a period of civil war. Stephen was captured after he was defeated by Matilda's army at the Battle of Lincoln in 1141 but was freed in an exchange for the captive Robert, Earl of Gloucester, Matilda's most able lieutenant. Matilda's time on the throne was brief, as a rebellion forced her to flee London. Stephen regained the throne and Matilda was besieged in Oxford, but escaped to Wallingford, camouflaged against the snow by wearing a white cloak. The conflict dragged on until 1148 when Matilda returned to France after the Earl of Gloucester died. Eventually, in 1154, her son was crowned king as Henry II after Stephen died

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The Duke of Devonshire, c1891-1908.Artist: Russell & Sons

The Duke of Devonshire, c1891-1908. Spencer Compton Cavendish, (1833-1908) became leader of the Liberal opposition in 1875, and after Disraeli's Conservative government fell in 1880 he was invited to form a government. Instead he opted to serve under Gladstone's leadership, holding the offices of Secretary of State for India (1880-1882) then Secretary of State for War (1882-1885). His differences with Gladstone over Irish Home Rule compelled Cavendish to refuse to serve in his government in 1886 and become leader of the Liberal Unionists. He succeeded as Duke of Devonshire in 1891 and entered the House of Lords

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