William I of the Netherlands

The country’s first king was the son of its previous ruler, the last stadtholder William V, Prince of Orange, who had fled to England several years earlier. King William I ordered the building of canals and roads throughout the Netherlands and invested in trade, shipping and industry. His total focus on the economy meant he had little attention to spare for other affairs of state, however. Discontent in the Southern Netherlands was growing, and this ultimately led to the secession of Belgium in 1831. The king fought to prevent this, but his efforts to win back the territory led to nothing. After years of fighting, William I recognised Belgium as an independent state in 1839. Disappointed by this turn of events, a year later he abdicated and his son William II acceded to the throne.