Queen Victoria

Victorian Age 

Alexandrina Victoria became famous as queen of Great Britain and Ireland, she was also Known as the Empress of India. she was born on 24th May 1819 in Kensington palace – London. She was the queen of United Kingdom, Great Britain & Ireland between 1837 to 1901. And the Empress of India from 1876 to 1901. Her father was Edward The Duke of Kent.

She had good relations with Lord Melbourne, the prime minister. Melbourne had great influence on her. She said that Lord Melbourne played and important role in boosting self- confidence and enthusiasm in Ǫueen Victoria.

Victoria got married on Feb 8. 1840 she ruled as a queen for 64 long years. During her reign, the British empire was at its largest and highest peak when she was the queen the British empire included India, Australia Canada, New Zealand and south Africa

It is said that during her reign the British the empire covered 1/5th of the worlds territory and on an average one person in every four belonged with the British empire.

During the reign of Ǫueen Victoria development in different walks of life took place which included literature and science. the economic changes and changes in Eve Structure of classes and role of religion in society were witnessed. Technological advancements took progress that time. She wanted to keep aloof from controversial topics like religion.

As far as scientific discoveries and Invention were concerned during that time. X-rays, telegraphy and photography were in vented even the telephone and electric light bulbs. As far as literature was concerned novel became a very popular genre of literature. Political movements such as Socialism, Liberalism and organized feminism got promoted during Victorian age. Apart from novels, poetry also became important. It is said that she enjoyed the novels written by Charles Dickens.

As far as India was concerned, during the revolt of 1857 of India, Lord Canning was governor general of India and Victoria was the British queen. Lord Canning was successful in controlling the revolt by July 1858. In the same year Ǫueen Victoria’s proclamation was declared. And the rule of East India Company was brought to an end and India went under direct Control of British government. That is why She was called as Empress of India.

In 1853 Lord Dalhousie the then Governor General of India had introduced railways in India. The first train in India or for that matter in Asia ran between Bombay and Thane on 16th April 1858.In her memory, the railway station at Bombay was named as Victoria Terminus, which is today known as Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Even the postal system and

electric telegram was introduced by Dalhousie when Victoria was Ǫueen of Great Britain and Ireland. Ǫueen Victoria and her reign, remains one of the spectacular ones and pop popular in British history.

The reign of Ǫueen Victoria definitely impacted British Empire and also entire world directly  or indirectly.

The famous Victoria and Albert Museum in London is named after Queen Victoria and her husband Albert. This museum was set up around 1852 but it was named as Victoria and Albert Museum in 1899 when Queen Victoria laid the cornerstone of the present day building of the Museum.The new building of Victoria and Albert Museum was opened in the year 1909. At present the Maharashtra government had brought the famous Tiger Claws of great Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from Victoria and Albert Museum. It is said that these Tiger Claws were used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for killing Afzal Khan, the noble from the Court of Adilshah of Bijapur.

Victoria was the Empress of British Empire during important international events like Revolt of 1857 in India, Crimean War (1853-56) with Russia, Construction of Suez Canal and the South African War (1899-1902) also called the Second Boer War. She could not witness the victory of British over Boers in this war as she died in 1901.