William III, Prince of Orange (1650-1702), was a prominent figure in European history. Born into the House of Orange-Nassau, he became Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic from 1672 and King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1689, alongside his wife, Queen Mary II. Known as William of Orange, he is celebrated for his military prowess and his role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which deposed his father-in-law, King James II, and established a constitutional monarchy in England. William's reign witnessed the establishment of the Bank of England and the passage of the Toleration Act, which granted religious freedom to nonconformists. His legacy as a skilled general and a staunch defender of Protestantism continues to be remembered today.
