“Born and educated in this country, I glory in the name of Britain.”–George III
King George III (in coronation robes) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
George William Frederick was born on this date in Norfolk House, St. James’s Square, London, England in 1738 . Today is the 275th anniversary of his birth.
The eldest of two sons born to Frederick, Prince of Wales and August of Saxe-Gotha, George was born two months early. The Royal family feared he wouldn’t survive infancy and he was quickly baptized. A month later he was presented publicly and formally baptized into the Anglican Church.
He was educated along with his brother, Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany, by tutors. The boys learned to read and write English and German as well as the Romance Languages, Science, Math, History, Geography, Economics, Law, Music, Dancing, Fencing, Riding and Sports.
On his father’s death in 1751, the 12-year-old George became Prince of Wales. He was cared for in relative isolation by his mother and tutored by the Scottish nobleman Lord Bute. [History.com]
Nine years later he followed his grandfather to the Throne. Crowned in 1761 he reigned for 59 until his death in 1820. George III had the third longest reign of a British monarch (surpassed only by his granddaughter Victoria — 63 years — and the current queen — 61 years).
English: George III of the United Kingdom while Prince of Wales (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Positive things that happened while he was king…
- Ended the Seven Year’s War
- Democracy increased during his reign
- Britain Defeated Napoleon
- Enhanced the Royal Academy of Arts
- Opened the King’s Library to researchers and academics.
Neutral things that happened while he was king…
- Survived an assassination attempt by James Hadfield
- Had a planet named after him (It was later renamed Uranus)
Negative things related to his reign…
- Suffered from madness as early at 1788 and spent much of the last decade of his reign in a fog.
“certainly as early as 1788. By 1810 his madness—now thought perhaps to be the result of a congenital disease called porphyria—had completely taken over his mind, and he was judged unfit to rule during the final decade of his reign” [Home At Fist.com]
- Britain lost the American Colonies as a result of the American Revolutionary War
’’’Coat of arms of the Hanoverian Princes of Wales’’’ used by George II, Frederick and George III. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Related articles
- Birthday Anniversary of King George III (paddytarletonblog.wordpress.com)
- Today a Prince (pegsandtails.wordpress.com)
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