Britain
George V
1865–1936 King of the United Kingdom and Emperor of India, 1910–1936
George V, the second son of the Prince of Wales, served in the Royal Navy until his elder brother's death in 1892 made him heir, and became King of the United Kingdom and Emperor of India on 6 May 1910. In the First World War he toured factories, shipyards and hospitals across Britain and visited the front in France repeatedly between 1914 and 1918. By the end of 1919 he had personally conferred more than 50,000 war decorations. He was seriously injured on 28 October 1915 in a riding accident while inspecting troops in France. On 17 July 1917, responding to anti-German feeling, he renamed the royal house from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor. He died on 20 January 1936.