William IV's short reign of seven years was marked (1) by the great
Reform Bill of 1832, which, to a great extent, took Parliament out of
the hands of rich men and "rotten boroughs" and put it under the
control of the people; (2) by the abolition of slavery in the British
colonies, and factory reform; (3) by the introduction of the friction
match, and by the building of the first successful line of steam
railway.