This was a tumultuous period in British history, as the monarchy immediately faced internal opposition from the Scottish Jacobites over proper succession. The kingdom waged numerous wars with rival nation France and fought the Thirteen Colonies that would become the United States of America.
The empire expanded across the globe through the power of the Royal Navy and the exploitation of the Atlantic slave trade. During this period Britain kickstarted the Industrial Revolution, which would change the world forever. This went hand in hand with developments in the ongoing agricultural revolution that led to massively higher crop yields and the ability to feed a growing population.
The arts and fashions of the times had their fair share of contrasts. Romanticism emerged as a reaction to the rationalism of the Enlightenment, favouring the beauty in emotion and nature. This was soon, however, critiqued by the Realist movement.
The elegance of Classical architecture was followed by the intricacy of the Gothic Revival. Women’s clothing flowed freely, while men had their outfits cut to a closer fit. Jewellery, meanwhile, differed starkly from day sets to evening accessories.