Prince William IV (1711-1751)
In 1747 Prince William IV became the first stadholder of all the provinces of the Republic. Previously he had been stadholder of Groningen and Gelderland.
Faced with the threat of another French invasion, the other provinces subsequently also appointed him stadholder. During this same time, the office of stadholder was made hereditary in the House of Orange, in both the male and female line.
As he died in 1751, William IV had little time to make use of his new powers. At the time of his death, his only son, Prince William V, was still a minor.