Short Biography About King George III
George III was born on 4 June 1738 in London, son of Frederick, Prince of
Wales and Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. He became heir to the throne at age when his father died. He was crowned king at age 22. He was the first
monarch from the House of Hanover to use English as his first language. In 1761, George married Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and they enjoyed a happy marriage, with 15 children.
A year after becoming king, George III arranged for the Earl of Bute to become prime minister. This decision upset a many people who considered Bute to be incompetent. In the newspaper that John Wilkes established, he accused the king and his ministers of lying. Wilkes became a symbol of free speech and the king was blamed when he was imprisoned for libel. Although Bute only stayed
in office for a year, he remained an important influence on George's political
opinions.
Over the next four years the king appointed four different prime ministers,
George Grenville, Marquis of Rockingham, Earl of Chatham and the Duke of
Grafton. In 1770, George appointed Lord North as prime minster. The king had at
last found a man who whom he liked and trusted and Lord North stayed in office
for ten years.
George III supported Lord North's policies that resulted in the American War
of Independence (1775-1783). Some members of parliament criticised the conflict as an
"unjust war" and wanted Lord North's government to bring it to an end. They were also upset about the way that George III tried to manipulate those in Parliament. They argued that parliamentary reform was necessary for the preservation of liberty.
Lord Frederick North's government fell quickly. When the House of Commons passed the India Bill, the king warned members of the House of Lords that he would judge any one who voted for the bill as his enemy. Unwilling to upset the king, the Lords rejected the bill.
The American war, its political aftermath and family quarrels put great
strain on George. After serious times of illness from 1788 - 1789 and 1801,
thought now to be caused by porphyria, he became permanently deranged in 1810.
The Prince of Wales (later George IV) became king. George III remained ill until his death at Windsor Castle.
Wales and Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. He became heir to the throne at age when his father died. He was crowned king at age 22. He was the first
monarch from the House of Hanover to use English as his first language. In 1761, George married Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and they enjoyed a happy marriage, with 15 children.
A year after becoming king, George III arranged for the Earl of Bute to become prime minister. This decision upset a many people who considered Bute to be incompetent. In the newspaper that John Wilkes established, he accused the king and his ministers of lying. Wilkes became a symbol of free speech and the king was blamed when he was imprisoned for libel. Although Bute only stayed
in office for a year, he remained an important influence on George's political
opinions.
Over the next four years the king appointed four different prime ministers,
George Grenville, Marquis of Rockingham, Earl of Chatham and the Duke of
Grafton. In 1770, George appointed Lord North as prime minster. The king had at
last found a man who whom he liked and trusted and Lord North stayed in office
for ten years.
George III supported Lord North's policies that resulted in the American War
of Independence (1775-1783). Some members of parliament criticised the conflict as an
"unjust war" and wanted Lord North's government to bring it to an end. They were also upset about the way that George III tried to manipulate those in Parliament. They argued that parliamentary reform was necessary for the preservation of liberty.
Lord Frederick North's government fell quickly. When the House of Commons passed the India Bill, the king warned members of the House of Lords that he would judge any one who voted for the bill as his enemy. Unwilling to upset the king, the Lords rejected the bill.
The American war, its political aftermath and family quarrels put great
strain on George. After serious times of illness from 1788 - 1789 and 1801,
thought now to be caused by porphyria, he became permanently deranged in 1810.
The Prince of Wales (later George IV) became king. George III remained ill until his death at Windsor Castle.