King George III

King George III
1738 - 1820

King George III was born in London on June 4, 1738, to Frederick, Prince of Wales, and Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, and was the grandson of King George II. He ascended the throne in 1760 at the age of 22, following his grandfather’s death, as his father had predeceased him in 1751. Unique among the monarchs of the House of Hanover, George III was the first to be born and raised in Britain, fostering a strong identification with his English subjects. Though his ideas on monarchy were ambitious, they were often considered impractical. His reign became notable for its length and challenges; he was Britain’s longest-reigning male monarch at the time, presiding over significant periods in British history, including the turbulent American War for Independence.

The relationship between Britain and its American colonies had already been under strain due to post-war debt following the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), a conflict that had greatly expanded British territories but also increased financial burdens. Seeking revenue, George and his ministers introduced taxation measures such as the Stamp Act of 1765 and the Townshend Acts of 1767, hoping the American colonies would contribute to the cost of their own defense. However, these measures met with fierce resistance. American colonists objected to what they saw as "taxation without representation," arguing they should not be taxed by a Parliament in which they had no representatives.

Tensions escalated through events like the Boston Massacre in 1770 and the Boston Tea Party in 1773. Viewing the Americans’ resistance as a threat to the stability of the British Empire, George endorsed the Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts, to assert British authority and punish Massachusetts for the tea party incident. These harsh measures, however, only served to unify the colonies in their resolve against British rule.

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By 1775, open conflict had broken out with the Battles of Lexington and Concord, marking the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. Though not a military strategist, George was a steadfast advocate of the war effort, approving significant funds and troop deployments to suppress the rebellion, which he expected would be swiftly resolved. However, unfamiliar terrain, vast distances, and the resilience of American forces, led by General George Washington, turned the conflict into a protracted struggle. Despite mounting losses, George remained staunchly opposed to any discussion of American independence, believing that concessions would encourage further rebellion within the empire.

The turning point came in 1781, when British General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, dealing a major blow to British morale. This defeat led to a shift in political opinion within Parliament, with increasing calls to end the costly conflict. While George continued to oppose American independence, pressure from Parliament forced him to enter peace negotiations, resulting in the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which formally recognized the United States as an independent nation. The loss of the colonies deeply affected George, who took the defeat personally and reportedly contemplated abdication before ultimately deciding to remain on the throne.

Though his reputation suffered initially, George’s steadfastness helped steer Britain through the aftermath of the American War. His later reign saw economic growth, the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, and a renewed focus on other colonial territories, marking a shift in British imperial policy toward more pragmatic governance.

Domestically, George engaged deeply in British politics, often exerting substantial influence. He notably clashed with Whig leader Charles James Fox, whose opposition he viewed as destabilizing. In 1783, George’s intervention led to the fall of the Fox-North coalition, enabling him to appoint William Pitt the Younger as prime minister, a decision that brought much-needed stability to British politics for the remainder of the century. His conservative views were particularly evident in his refusal to support Catholic Emancipation in 1801, which he believed violated his coronation oath to uphold the Church of England, leading to the resignation of Pitt as prime minister.

After 1801, George’s health began to deteriorate due to an illness, likely porphyria, causing bouts of blindness and mental instability. His condition worsened over time, and by 1811, his recurring episodes of insanity made it necessary to establish a Regency. His eldest son, the future George IV, took over as Prince Regent. George III and his wife, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, had 15 children, including the Prince Regent, who would later inherit the throne.

Though initially criticized by Whig historians, George III’s legacy has since been reexamined more sympathetically. He learned quickly, evolving into a pragmatic statesman, albeit one of conservative views. Known as the “Farmer King” for his simple tastes and love for rural life, George was one of the most beloved monarchs of the House of Hanover. This public affection bolstered the monarchy’s stability even during the unpopular reign of his son, George IV.

King George III passed away at Windsor Castle on January 29, 1820, leaving behind a complex legacy. His reign had spanned pivotal transformations within Britain and its empire, from the American Revolution to the rise of industrialization, and shaped British imperial policy in ways that influenced the growth of the British Empire. While his commitment to unity and his vision of monarchy were steadfast, his legacy reflects both the triumphs and the challenges of governing an expanding and evolving empire.

Autograph letter signed, dated September 2, 1786 to an unnamed friend. Letter discusses the design of the Theological Pivre Medal, the health of Elizabeth (his daughter), and his friend's horseback riding. Signed "George R."

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George III was born on 4 June 1738 in London, the eldest son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. He became heir to the throne on the death of his father in 1751, succeeding his grandfather, George II, in 1760. He was the third Hanoverian monarch and the first one to be born in England and to use English as his first language.

George III is widely remembered for two things: losing the American colonies and going mad. This is far from the whole truth. George's direct responsibility for the loss of the colonies is not great. He opposed their bid for independence to the end, but he did not develop the policies (such as the Stamp Act of 1765 and the Townshend duties of 1767 on tea, paper and other products) which led to war in 1775-76 and which had the support of Parliament. These policies were largely due to the financial burdens of garrisoning and administering the vast expansion of territory brought under the British Crown in America, the costs of a series of wars with France and Spain in North America, and the loans given to the East India Company (then responsible for administering India). By the 1770s, and at a time when there was no income tax, the national debt required an annual revenue of £4 million to service it.

The declaration of American independence on 4 July 1776, the end of the war with the surrender by British forces in 1782, and the defeat which the loss of the American colonies represented, could have threatened the Hanoverian throne. However, George's strong defence of what he saw as the national interest and the prospect of long war with revolutionary France made him, if anything, more popular than before.

The American war, its political aftermath and family anxieties placed great strain on George in the 1780s. After serious bouts of illness in 1788-89 and again in 1801, George became permanently deranged in 1810. He was mentally unfit to rule in the last decade of his reign; his eldest son - the later George IV - acted as Prince Regent from 1811. Some medical historians have said that George III's mental instability was caused by a hereditary physical disorder called porphyria.

George's accession in 1760 marked a significant change in royal finances. Since 1697, the monarch had received an annual grant of £700,000 from Parliament as a contribution to the Civil List, i.e. civil government costs (such as judges' and ambassadors' salaries) and the expenses of the Royal Household. In 1760, it was decided that the whole cost of the Civil List should be provided by Parliament in return for the surrender of the hereditary revenues by the King for the duration of his reign. (This arrangement still applies today, although civil government costs are now paid by Parliament, rather than financed directly by the monarch from the Civil List.)

Royal Marriage Announcement of King George III as printed in the The London Magazine, Or, Gentleman's Monthly Intelligencer, July - 1761: "At the court at St. James's, the 8th day of July, 1761. PRESENT" --- "The King's Most Excellent Majesty, .... I am come to a resolution to demand in marriage the princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg Strelitz; a princess distinguished by every eminent virtue, and amiable endowment, whose illustrious line has constantly shewn the firmest zeal for the protestant religion, and a particular attachment to my family. I have judged proper to communicate to you these my intentions, in order that you may be fully apprised of a matter so highly important to me, and to my kingdoms, and which, I persuade myself, will be most acceptable to all my loving subjects. Whereupon all the privy counsellors present made it their request to his majesty, that this his majesty's most gracious declaration to them might be made public; which his majesty was pleased to order accordingly."

The first 25 years of George's reign were politically controversial for reasons other than the conflict with America. The King was accused by some critics, particularly Whigs (a leading political grouping), of attempting to reassert royal authority in an unconstitutional manner. In fact, George took a conventional view of the constitution and the powers left to the Crown after the conflicts between Crown and Parliament in the 17th century.

Although he was careful not to exceed his powers, George's limited ability and lack of subtlety in dealing with the shifting alliances within the Tory and Whig political groupings in Parliament meant that he found it difficult to bring together ministries which could enjoy the support of the House of Commons. His problem was solved first by the long-lasting ministry of Lord North (1770-82) and then, from 1783, by Pitt the Younger, whose ministry lasted until 1801.

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George III was the most attractive of the Hanoverian monarchs. He was a good family man (there were 15 children) and devoted to his wife, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, for whom he bought the Queen's House (later enlarged to become Buckingham Palace). However, his sons disappointed him and, after his brothers made unsuitable secret marriages, the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 was passed at George's insistence. (Under this Act, the Sovereign must give consent to the marriage of any lineal descendant of George II, with certain exceptions.)

Being extremely conscientious, George read all government papers and sometimes annoyed his ministers by taking such a prominent interest in government and policy. His political influence could be decisive. In 1801, he forced Pitt the Younger to resign when the two men disagreed about whether Roman Catholics should have full civil rights. George III, because of his coronation oath to maintain the rights and privileges of the Church of England, was against the proposed measure.

Queen Charlotte: Revolutionary War date autograph letter signed by Queen Charlotte to her brother written in French on the 19th of February 1779: “Sir my brother. It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Your Majesty on the Birth of the Princess, that Riene your very lovely wife comes by the assistance of Divine Providence to put the World, and I share with Your Majesty the joy that this event causes you begging the Quite Powerful that it of a agene from days to days to fill the royal house with all kinds of Benedictions. With my perfect sincerity. Sir my brother, Your good sister, Charlotte. At St. James, 19th February 1779.”

One of the most cultured of monarchs, George started a new royal collection of books (65,000 of his books were later given to the British Museum, as the nucleus of a national library) and opened his library to scholars. In 1768, George founded and paid the initial costs of the Royal Academy of Arts (now famous for its exhibitions). He was the first king to study science as part of his education (he had his own astronomical observatory), and examples of his collection of scientific instruments can now be seen in the Science Museum.

George III also took a keen interest in agriculture, particularly on the crown estates at Richmond and Windsor, being known as 'Farmer George'. In his last years, physical as well as mental powers deserted him and he became blind. He died at Windsor Castle on 29 January 1820, after a reign of almost 60 years - the second longest in British history.

United Colonies Continental Congress President Peyton Randolph

United Colonies Continental Congress President Henry Middleton