Portrait of George V (1865-1936), King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Following the death of his elder brother Albert Victor, George, then Duke of York, became heir to the throne, marrying Princess May of Teck in 1893 with whom he had six children. His reign from 1910 to 1936 was punctuated by significant world and domestic events, such as World War I (during which time he changed the Royal family name to Windsor), the Sinn Fein Rebellion and the rise of the Labour Party. Although lacking an intellectual nature, George was instrumental in developing the monarchy as a symbol of national unity.