Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom (1819-1901). Born Alexandrina Victoria, she became queen at the age of 18 in 1837. She reigned for over 63 years until her death, and was the second-longest reigning British monarch. She married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840, wearing black mourning clothes after his death in 1861. They had nine children. During her reign, the United Kingdom went through a period of industrial, cultural, political, scientific and military change, including a much-expanded British Empire. Queen Victoria became Empress of India in 1876. This photograph, an albumen silver print, was taken in around 1862 by British photographer Robert Jefferson Bingham (1824-1870). |