Background
Prince William IV was the son of John William Friso of the Frisian branch of the house of Nassau. He was born at Leeuwarden in 1711.
Prince William IV was the son of John William Friso of the Frisian branch of the house of Nassau. He was born at Leeuwarden in 1711.
He became stadholder of Friesland at the age of seven, and later also of Groningen.
He was accepted in 1747 as hereditary stadholder of all the Netherlands when the French threatened invasion.
