Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Why was the DEATH OF WILLIAM III so unusual and what WEIRD thing was found during his autopsy? In this Stuart history documentary from History Calling we look at how a horse and a mole brought down a King and at why his doctors were left scratching their heads when they opened him up after he expired on 8 March 1702.
William, Prince of Orange (also known as King Billy) became King in 1689 after the Glorious Revolution when he ousted his uncle/father-in-law James II from the throne and took over, alongside his wife/cousin, Mary II. Mary died in 1694 and William ruled alone until his own death a little over seven years later. On 20 February 1702, having gone out for a ride in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace on his horse, Sorrel, the animal stumbled over a mole hill and threw the king off, breaking his collar bone in the process. The bone was reset, the King returned to Kensington Palace and all seemed like it would be well. The internal damage was much more severe than it initially appeared though and after gradually declining in health over the next two weeks, the King finally died. Along the way his doctors did everything they could to save him, giving him something called Sir Walter Raleigh’s cordial, as well as powdered crabs’ eyes among other disgusting historical medicines and encouraging him to keep eating, after his appetite failed him. When he eventually passed, they opened up his body to determine exactly how William III died, but also discovered the strange absence of something essential to life, an absence which I still can’t explain today. William III’s enemies were delighted by his death and took to toasting the mole, calling it the ‘little gentleman in black velvet’. William III’s grave is in Westminster Abbey in the Chapel of Henry VII.
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YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
THE STORY OF THE JACOBITES
youtu.be/rxz-PJIpETE
DEATH AND BURIAL OF HENRY I
youtu.be/TfTxbk8mdCo
THE STUARTS PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0FpTGgZhdt94Jq0ollCJmN9
THE HORRIFIC DEATH OF QUEEN CAROLINE
youtu.be/odlHPwa7wDc
Want to watch/hear/read more about history (and a whole host of other topics)? Then you might benefit from a free Audible or Prime video trial. They are available from the following links:
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NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
#WilliamIII #WilliamPrinceOfOrange #RoyalDeaths
Why was the DEATH OF WILLIAM III so unusual and what WEIRD thing was found during his autopsy? In this Stuart history documentary from History Calling we look at how a horse and a mole brought down a King and at why his doctors were left scratching their heads when they opened him up after he expired on 8 March 1702.
William, Prince of Orange (also known as King Billy) became King in 1689 after the Glorious Revolution when he ousted his uncle/father-in-law James II from the throne and took over, alongside his wife/cousin, Mary II. Mary died in 1694 and William ruled alone until his own death a little over seven years later. On 20 February 1702, having gone out for a ride in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace on his horse, Sorrel, the animal stumbled over a mole hill and threw the king off, breaking his collar bone in the process. The bone was reset, the King returned to Kensington Palace and all seemed like it would be well. The internal damage was much more severe than it initially appeared though and after gradually declining in health over the next two weeks, the King finally died. Along the way his doctors did everything they could to save him, giving him something called Sir Walter Raleigh’s cordial, as well as powdered crabs’ eyes among other disgusting historical medicines and encouraging him to keep eating, after his appetite failed him. When he eventually passed, they opened up his body to determine exactly how William III died, but also discovered the strange absence of something essential to life, an absence which I still can’t explain today. William III’s enemies were delighted by his death and took to toasting the mole, calling it the ‘little gentleman in black velvet’. William III’s grave is in Westminster Abbey in the Chapel of Henry VII.
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
THE STORY OF THE JACOBITES
youtu.be/rxz-PJIpETE
DEATH AND BURIAL OF HENRY I
youtu.be/TfTxbk8mdCo
THE STUARTS PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0FpTGgZhdt94Jq0ollCJmN9
THE HORRIFIC DEATH OF QUEEN CAROLINE
youtu.be/odlHPwa7wDc
Want to watch/hear/read more about history (and a whole host of other topics)? Then you might benefit from a free Audible or Prime video trial. They are available from the following links:
AUDIBLE
amzn.to/44MvlMi
AUDIBLE PLUS & AUDIBLE PREMIUM PLUS
amzn.to/42rh3PF
PRIME VIDEO
amzn.to/3LW7ykg
GEAR USED
DJI Drone: amzn.to/38h1vXr (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/39hROZm (US LINK)
Go-Pro Hero 10 camera: amzn.to/3EPIK9U (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rTWScL (US LINK)
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/37CdC1r (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3vaVxjU (US LINK)
Memory Card: amzn.to/36QvcOQ (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3KeLZZs (US LINK)
Microphone: amzn.to/3MFtoaK (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rYtjH8 (US LINK)
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
#WilliamIII #WilliamPrinceOfOrange #RoyalDeaths
