Page "William III of England" Paragraph 8

Grand Pensionary Johan de Witt and his uncle Cornelis de Graeff pushed the States of Holland to take charge of William's education.

This was to ensure he would acquire the skills to serve in a future — though undetermined — state function ; the States acted on 25 September 1660.

This first involvement of the authorities did not last long.

On 23 December 1660, when William was ten years old, his mother died of smallpox at Whitehall Palace, London while visiting her brother King Charles II.

In her will, Mary requested that Charles look after William's interests, and Charles now demanded the States of Holland end their interference.

To appease Charles, they complied on 30 September 1661.

In 1661, Zuylenstein began to work for Charles.

He induced William to write letters to Charles asking him to help William become stadtholder someday.

After his mother's death, William's education and guardianship became a point of contention between his dynasty's supporters and the advocates of a more republican Netherlands.