George III of the United Kingdom

Childhood

George was born prematurely the June 4th 1738 with Norfolk House, with London. His/her father, the prince Frederick, prince de Galles, was the son of the king George II of Great Britain and of the margravine Caroline d' Ansbach. His/her mother, the princess Augusta of Saxony-Gotha, was the girl of the duke Frederic II of Saxony-Gotha and of the princess Magdalena Augusta d' Anhalt-Zerbst.

George Guillaume Frederic was baptized the July 4th 1738 with Norfolk House by the bishop of Oxford, Thomas Secker. Its godfathers were the king Frederic Ier of Sweden and the duke Frederic III of Saxony-Gotha. Its godmother was the princess Sophia Dorothea of Hanover.

Child, Georges Guillaume Frederic enjoyed a good health, but he was hated by his father who showed little interest for his children.

In 1751, his/her father died of a disease of the lungs, and Georges Guillaume Frederic became the heir to the throne of Great Britain, and high with the row of duke of Edinburgh, title having belonged to his father. In 1751, Georges II of Great Britain did it prince de Galles. In 1759, Georges Guillaume Frederic fell passionately in love with Sarah Lennox, but John Stuart, count de Bute advised to him to give up its projects of marriage with the girl of Charles Lennox, duke of Richmond. He wrote: “I am designated for happiness and the misery of large people”, “and consequently I must act contrary to my passion”. He refused a union with Sophie Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.

Reign

George assembled on the throne the October 25th 1760, after the death of her grandfather the king George II. Its reign was marked by:

fastening within the British Empire of the News-France and French commercial counters to the the Indies (Pondichéry) and to the Senegal, yielded by the king Louis XV during the ratification of the treated of Paris of 1763;
beginnings of the Industrial revolution and agricultural;
the loss of the colonies of America, which leads to the creation of the the United States;
of long wars against the French revolution, then the empire Napoleon IEN.

Marriage

The September 8th 1761, Georges III married in the vault of the palate Saint-James, the duchess Sophie Charlotte de Mecklemburg-Strelitz, girl of Charles Ier de Mecklembourg-Strelitz). Contrary to its predecessors, it did not have a extra-marital connection. Georges III and Sophie Charlotte de Mecklemburg-Strelitz were a plain couple.

Children of George III

George IV of the United Kingdom (1762 - 1830)
Frédérick-Augustus (8/16/1763 - 1/5/1827) duke of York and Albany, count d' Ulster, Prince Evêque of Osnabrück married the 28/09/Frédérique one of Prussia (1767 - 1820) (girl of Frederic-Guillaume II of Prussia), without posterity
Guillaume IV of the United Kingdom (1765 - 1837)
Charlotte Augusta Mathilde (1766-1828) married in 1797 Frederic I {{er}} of Wurtemberg
Edward Augustus (1767 - 1820)
Augusta (1768 - 1840), unmarried
Elisabeth (1770 - 1840) married in 1818 Frederic VI landgrave of Hesse-Hombourg
Ernest-Auguste Ier of Hanover (1771 - 1851)
Augustus-Frederic (1773 - 1843), Duc of Sussex married in 1st weddings in 1793 Augusta Murray; 2 children, marriage cancelled in 1804; married in 2nd weddings in 1831 Cecile duchess of Inverness; without posterity
Adolphus-Frédérick (1774 - 1850), Duke of Cambridge and Count de Tipperary and Baron Culloden wife the 6/1/1818: Augusta girl of Frederic landgrave of Hesse-Cassel-Rumpenheim including 3 children
Mary (1776 - 1857) wife in 1816: William, Duke of Gloucester
Sophia Mathilde (1777 - 1848), unmarried
Octavius (1779 - 1783)
Alfred (1780 - 1782)
Amelia (1783 - 1810); single person

First years of the reign of Georges III

The first years of the reign of Georges III were remembered by an political instability, emanating mainly from the dissension which has occurred after the Guerre Seven Year old. The favoritism which Georges III against the Conservateur S showed pushed the liberals to denounce Georges III like autocrat, like was formerly marked Charles Ier of England. In 1762, Georges III replaced the liberal government of Thomas Pelham-Holles, duke of Newcastle by a conservative government directed by John Stuart (3rd count de Bute).
In 1763, after the signature of the Treated of Paris (February 10th 1763), John Stuart resigned, it was replaced by the liberal Georges Grenville. This same year, Georges III published the royal proclamation which ordered to it not expansion in the west of the American colonies for not froisser the Amerindian . This proclamation was very unpopular near the Americans, it caused serious dissensions between the colonists and the British government. In 1765, Georges Grenville created the law of the stamp, law who gave a right of taking away on all the British documents in North America. The king exasperating attempts at Georges Grenville to reduce his prerogatives, it vainly tried to persuade William Pitt Elder the to accept the station of Prime Minister. After a short trouble of health which predicted the diseases to come, Georges III arranged himself to draw aside Georges Grenville and to form with the liberal Charles Watson-Wentworth, marquis de Rockingham a new government. Charles Watson-Wentworth with the support of Georges III abrogea the very unpopular law of the stamp, but its government was weak. In 1766, William Pitt the Elder one succeeded and was created count to him de Chatham. The actions of William Pitt and Georges III were so popular in America that statues of the two men were set up with New York. William Pitt fell in disgrace in 1767 and was replaced by Augustus FitzRoy (3rd duke of Grafton).
In 1770, this government was replaced by the Tories. The government of the Prime Minister Frederick North brought much dissatisfaction in America. To alleviate the American opinion, the majority of the customs duties were removed, excluded the taxation of the. With Boston, in 1773, at ends of political protest, a crowd threw in the port 342 cases of the (this event is known under the name of “ Boston Tea Party ”). In Great Britain, the public opinion hardening against the colonists, William Pitt and Frédric North by mutual agreement declared the destruction of the cases of the like a certainly criminal act. Frederic North consequently presented punitive laws, known by the colonists under the name of Lois coercitives' or intolerable Lois . The activity of the wearing of Boston was stopped, the legislative elections in the colony of the Massachussets were suspended.

The detailed events of the years 1763 to 1775 tend to clear Georges III on his responsibility towards the Guerre for independence for the United States of America.

The War of American Independence

The War of American Independence, began in April 1775, by an armed conflict opposing the British military careers to the colonial militiamans in New England. One month later, the delegates of the thirteen British colonies wrote a peace proposal known under the name of Pétition of the branch of olive-tree , London rejected it. pretexting that the war was already declared. The July 4th 1776, the colonies were declared independent of the British crown and became a new nation (the United States of America). The Declaration of Independence of the United States was a long list of complaints against the king of Great Britain, the legislature and the British people. Among the objections selected against Georges III this declaration mentioned: “It gave up the government of the colonies. It plundered our seas, devastated our coasts, burned our cities and destroyed the lives of our compatriots”. With this news, Georges III was made indignant.

During this War of Independence, the British took New York (1776), they worked out a strategy with an aim of taking the Canada, but they failed in this company following the rendering of the general John Burgoyne at the time of the Bataille of Saratoga in September and October 1777. the February 6th 1778, France, principal adversary of Great Britain signed a treaty of friendship with the United States. Frederic North requested the handing-over of the political matters from William Pitt whom he thought more suited. Georges III refused this proposal with William Pitt and asked him to be put at the service of Frederic North, William Pitt refused this offer, it died a few months later. Great Britain was then in war against France, then in 1779 against Spain.

Georges III was obstinated in this war engaged against the colonists of North America, in spite of the councils of his ministers, Granville-Levenson-Gower and Thomas Thynne made indignant to be mingled with this war resigned of the government. Frederic North divided the opinion of his colleagues, but remained with the government. Georges III ends up giving up the hope to subject America by strongly armed troops, but, more important, it could not be solved to recognize the independence of the Americans and, to punish them, it promised an eternal war to them. Its plan was to preserve 30.000 men of garrison stationed at the island of Rhodos, in New York, in Canada and in Florida, other forces would attack the French and the Spaniards in the Western Indies. To punish the Americans, Georges III projected to destroy their trade, to bombard their ports, to burn the cities located along the coasts (as in the Connecticut), to push the Indians to attack the civilians at the borders. These operations, thought Georges III would inspire the loyal supporters, would break the Congress, a continual harassing would impoverish the rebels, until the day when dissatisfaction and disappointment would change into remorse and penitence. This day there, the rebels will beg to return within the British kingdom. This plan meant death for the loyal supporters, the prolongation of an expensive war, the risk of a disaster while the French and the Spaniards would join together a armada for invaded British Isles and its capital.

In 1781, the news of the rendering of Charles Cornwallis with the seat of Yorktown arrived at London. In 1782, after having dissuaded the king to abdicate, Frederic North presented his resignation to Georges III. Finally, the king accepted the defeat in North America and authorized the opening of the peace negotiations. The treaty of Paris and the Traité of Versailles signed the September 3rd 1783 which reflect a term with the War of American Independence were ratified in 1783. The old treaty envisaged the recognition of the United States by Great Britain, the transfer of Florida in Spain, the guarantee of access for the French fishermen on the island of Newfoundland. In 1785, John Adams was named ambassador of the United States in Great Britain. Georges III resigned himself concerning the new relationship between his country and the United States, he says to John Adams: “I will be the first to recognize the friendship of the United States and his independent power”.

Constitutional fight

After the collapse of the North ministry in 1782, Charles Watson-Wentworth became, in March 1782 Prime Minister for the second time, but he died on July 1st 1782. William Petty FitzMaurice succeeded to him, but Charles James Fox refused to be useful under the Schelburne ministry and required the nomination of William Cavendish-Bentinck, duke of Portland cement. Under the pressure of the House of Commons, Schelburne and its government were replaced by the coalition Fox-North (1782). William Cavendish-Bentinck was thus named Prime Minister, but was only one figurehead. Charles James Fox accepted the wallet of Foreign Minister (1782 with 1783), Frederic North was named Secretary of State.

Ministry Portland cement

Georges III was very afflicted to name ministers for whom it did not feel any sympathy. But the ministry quickly acquired Portland cement the majority with the House of Commons, it could, in this case not easily dismissed being. Georges III was extremely opposed, when the government presented to him the report/ratio on the India, which proposed to reform the government of India by transferring the political power starting from the Indian Company from the East to the parliamentary police chiefs. After the vote of the House of Commons, Georges III authorized Georges Nugent-Temple, 1st marquis de Buckingham, to inform the House of Lords whom he considered any par which voted for this report/ratio like its enemy. The report/ratio was rejected by the Lords, three days later, the Portland ministry was dislocated of its functions. William Pitt the Young person was named Prime Minister with for Secretary of State Georges Nugent-Temple. The November 17th 1783, the Parliament voted a judgment concerning the influence which the sovereign in the parliamentary vote like “a great crime held” and William Pitt the Young person and Georges Nugent-Temple were in the obligation to resign. The departure of the Secretary of State destabilized the government during the three next months and lost its majority, the Parliament was dissolved; In this new election, William Pitt found political stability.

Pitt ministry

For Georges III, the nomination of William Pitt the Young person at the post of Prime Minister was a great victory, the king showed that it always held the capacity to name Prime Ministers without the assistance of a parliamentary group. Throughout all Pitt ministry, Georges III supported several of his political objectives. To come to assistance of William Pitt, the king created new pars. A great number of these new pars invaded the House of Lords and made it possible William Pitt to maintain a majority firm. Throughout Pitt ministry, Georges III was extremely popular. The people supported explorations in the Pacific Ocean asked by the king. Georges III also brought his assistance to the royal Academy with great concessions made on his private funds. The British people had much admiration for the fidelity of Georges III towards his wife, which differentiated it from its predecessors. Great advances were made in the field of science and industry.

However, the health of king Georges declined. It was reached of a mental disease, which nowadays makes us think of the symptoms Porphyrie. A study on the wicks of hair of Georges III indicates a strong arsenic rate, which was perhaps the release of this pathology. The king had a short access of the disease in 1765, then in 1788, this indisposition was longer. Its health condition worsened: it was then seriously reached, speaking during long hours without stopping. False stories circulated about the disease of the king, such as that where he claimed to tighten the hand with a tree in the erroneous belief which it was about the king of Prussia. In November 1788, at the time of the convocation of the Parliament, the king could not, as it was the use, to communicate the day order for the next legislative session. According to the use ancestral, the Parliament could not begin its work without the speech of the king to the throne. The Parliament was unaware of the habit and began its work. Charles James Fox and William Pitt discussed on the limits authorized to control during the disease of a sovereign. Although the two parts were appropriate that it would be more judicious than the oldest son of Georges III, heir to the throne, prince de Galles can ensure regency, they were in dissension concerning the rules of this one. Charles James Fox considered that was to prince de Galles to ensure regency in the name of his/her sick father; William Pitt asserted that it was preferable that it was the Parliament which appointed the regent. Steps delayed the meeting of the Parliament. This one claiming the opening of the session by the king, no authority could obtain the meeting of the Parliament. William Pitt proposed a solution based on an obscure fiction: the sovereign could delegate several of his functions to the Lords police chiefs by letters patent validated by seal in the presence of the Lords police chiefs, the Chancellor would affix his seal without the assent of the king. Although such an action is illegal, it would not be possible to call into question the validity of these letters patent. The seal would be validated in front of the members of the court. The prince Frederick, duke of York and Albany, second wire of Georges III denounced the proposal of William Pitt like “unconstitutional and illegal”. Néammoins, the Lords police chiefs were named and the Parliament opened the session. In February 1789, by act, the Council of regency authorized the princes of Wales to act as a prince regent Régent. It was introduced and presented to the House of Commons. But before the House of Lords had been able to present the bill, the health of Georges III improved thanks to tratement proposed by Doctor Francis Willis. The king confirmed the validity of the actions of the Lords police chiefs, the sovereign took again the direction of the government.

French revolution and Napoleonean Wars

The French revolution and the entry in war

After the improvement of the health condition of Georges III, his popularity and that of its Prime Minister William Pitt were considerably increased at the expense of Fox and prince de Galles, who hated his father. The abolition of monarchy at the time of the French revolution (September 21st 1792) worried the British landowners. In 1793, Great Britain declared the war with the revolutionary France and Georges III was the symbol of British resistance. He granted to William Pitt the increase taxes, recruitment masses some for the service in the armies, the suspension of the privilege of the Habeas Corpus in the preparation of the war.

The so good British preparation is it, France remained strongest. The First coalition was demolished by the French revolutionary army in 1797. The Second coalition was demolished in 1802. Great Britain ceased the combat with Napoleon Bonaparte. Not very front, an attempted murder on the person of Georges III took place the May 15th 1800. This attempted murder was not justified by the policy but rather due to a religious fanaticism: James Hardfield shot at Georges III in a lane where the theater of Drury was located at the moment when the anthem God Save the King was sung.

Irish insurrection

A short lull of the hostilities allowed William Pitt a concentration of her efforts on the Ireland where in 1798 a rising took place. The company of Irishman-Plain caused this Irish rising, the chiefs were Wolfe Tone (1763 - 1798) and Lord Edward FitzGerald (1763 - 1798). Those had asked for and obtained the promise of a help of revolutionary France, which for the United Kingdom appeared extremely dangerous. William Pitt understood very quickly that Ireland had to be pacified very quickly. Only one manner can only be considered, the protection of Ireland against the authority of the Parliament of Dublin, where only a minority of Protestants express their interests. The British Parliament thus voted the Acte of Union in 1800. January 1st 1801, Ireland was plain in Great Britain, known since under the name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, which made it possible hundred Irish deputies to sit at the House of Commons, with thirty-two Irish Lords to sit at the House of Lords to London.

January 1st, 1801 Georges III gave up the complaint of the throne of France, that the English and British sovereigns had maintained since Edouard III of England. One suggested in Georges III adopting the title of “emperor of the English and the dominions hanovriens”, but he refused this proposal. A.G. Stapleton wrote: “III estimated that its true dignity consisted of its existence known in Europe and the world by a suitable and uncontested style pertaining to the British Crown”.

Among the elements appearing in the policy of William Pitt relating to Ireland, British the Prime Minister had as a project to remove certain legal incapacities applicable to the roman catholics after the Act of the Union (emancipation of the Irish catholics). But William Pitt could not impose her project: Georges III refused categorically asserting that the emancipation of the catholics would be a violation of his oath makes the day of its crowning, oath which stipulated the maintenance of Protestantism in the kingdom. King, “where power on the ground to free me from the observance of chanque sentence of this oath, in particular that which requires ego to maintain the religion reformed Protestant? … Not, not I preferred to beg my bread with the door of Europe, that to grant this measurement. I can give up my crown and withdraw capacity. I can leave my palate and live in a house. I can pose my head on a block and lose my life, but I cannot break my oath”. Confronted with the refusal of the king to adopt the religious reforms concerning the catholic Irishmen, William Pitt threatened to resign.

New governments

The March 14th 1801, William Pitt was withdrawn, it was replaced by Henry Addington (1757 - 1844), William Pitt remained in the capacity as advising private. The Addington ministry was remarkable, because so to speak aucunes reforms was not made. In fact, the nation was strongly against the idea of the reform, it was right the witness of the bloody French revolution. In spite of the request by the people of a strong action in Europe, Henry Addington did not respect his engagements. In October 1801, it signed peace with the French, the March 25th 1802, it signed the peace treaty of Amiens.

Georges III never regarded peace with France as a reality; for him it was “an experiment”. In May 1803, the two nations are again in war.

Second Pitt ministry

In 1804, new access of the disease of Georges III; after his re-establishment, the king discovered the mistrust of the public opinion towards its Prime Minister in the way of conduction the nation with the war, it recalled William Pitt to the post of Prime Minister. William Pitt wished to name Charles James Fox with her ministry, but Georges III refused, the king hating Charles James Fox who had a harmful influence on the prince of Wales. Charles James Fox had encouraged the prince of Wales to carry out an extravagant and extravagant life. William Wyndham, lord of Grenville perceived this refusal like an injustice with regard to Charles James Fox and then refused to enter to the Pitt ministry.

William Pitt concentrated all her efforts to form a new coalition with Austria, Russia and the Sweden. The third coalition failed like the two preceding ones, it crumbled in 1803. Napoleon i prepared the invasion of the Great Britain to the camp of Boulogne (July 1803), Horatio Nelson destroyed the fleets French and Spanish with Gibraltar the October 21st 1805, England was saved. The fight against the Napoleonean armies was right of the health of William Pitt, it died in 1806.

Grenville ministry

A cabinet of coalition was trained (Whigs and Tories), and it was directed by the Prime Minister William Wyndham Grenville (1759 - 1834). Fox made party of the ministry Grenville, the king then showing a certain conciliation towards him. This ministry was not very skilful with the army, but showed a certain address with the navy, to which it gave the means of counteracting the continental Blocus set up by Napoleon i the November 21st 1806. The English fleet destroyed the fleets of the continental Blockade with Copenhagen (1807), then it took the colonies Dutch and Spanish and applied in the control of the neutral ships. After the death of Charles James Fox, Georges III entered in conflict with the ministry. This one submitted to the king the following proposal: to allow the roman catholics to reach all the ranks of the British army. Not only Georges III refused this proposal, but it made write by the members of the Grenville ministry an agreement so that never this measurement is not applicable in the future. The ministers agreed to drop this measurement, but refused to bind in the future.

Ministries Portland cement and Perceval

In 1807, William Cavendish-Bentinck (3rd Portland cement duke) was named nominal Prime Minister, and it then accepted the support of the chancellor of Finances Spencer Perceval. The Parliament was dissolved, and the following election brought to the House of Commons a strong advance in the majority. This ministry Tory de Portland led the hard life to Napoleon i: The Spaniards being raised against the French, the British reflect with profit this insurrection and unloaded with the Portugal. They pushed the Junot general then to leave Spain.

In 1809, Spencer Perceval was named Prime Minister. Under this ministry the United Kingdom failed in its attack directed against the Netherlands. Arthur Wellesley, victorious in Talavera in Spain, was made Viscount of Wellington.

During this period, Georges III did not make any important decision, and in 1810 it sank completely in the madness, his/her oldest son becoming regent of the kingdom.

Life of Georges III pennies Regency

In 1810, the cataract reaches the eyes of Georges III and returned it almost blind man. Its almost blindness was caused by the death of his/her more young girl, its preferred, the Amélie princess. The nurse charged to take the care to the king paid: “The scenes of distress and daily tears were sad beyond description”. Georges III had sunk in complete and permanent alienation, and was installed with the Château of Windsor. In 1811, it accepted the law of Regency, law agreed by itself to the Lords police chiefs. The prince of Wales ensured regency until the death of his father.

Liverpool ministry

Spencer Perceval was assassinated in 1812 (he was the only British Prime Minister victim of an assassination). It was replaced by Robert Jenkinson, 2nd count de Liverpool. This one supported the British army in its fight against the Napoleonean armies and allowed many victories of which Waterloo the June 18th 1815. The Congress of Vienna (1814) had set up the Hanover in kingdom, and had placed it under the reign of the British sovereigns. It also granted important territorial profits, and a voter to him.

Decline and died of Georges III

From day in day the health of Georges III degraded, reaches blindness, it became deaf. It never knew that it was installed on the throne of Hanover in 1814, it was unaware of the death of his wife which has occurred in 1818. Before Christmas 1819, it output meaningless words during 58 hours, and in the last weeks which précédérent its death it lost the use of its lower extremities.

Georges III died the January 29th 1820 with the Château of Windsor, his son preferred prince Frédérick, duke of York and by Albany accompanied it in its last moments. Its fourth wire, Edward Augustus, duke of Kent and Strathearn died the January 23rd 1820.

Burial of Georges IIII

Georges III was buried the February 15th 1820 in the Saint-Georges vault in Windsor.

Genealogy

Georges III belonged to the Maison of Hanover resulting from the Maison of Brunswick (Brunswick-Luneburg), itself resulting from the downward Maison of Este of the dukes of Toscane. It is also at this house that Elizabeth II belongs.

By his son Ernest-Auguste Ier of Hanover, Georges III is also the ascending one of the current chief of the royal House of Hanover, the prince Ernest-Auguste of Hanover (1954-) (Ernest-Auguste V of Hanover).

Chronology of its reign

1760 : Very quickly, George III proclamation clearly her will to restore the royal prerogatives by limiting the authority of the Parliament and by controlling very narrowly the cabinet. The Prime Minister William Pitt gives his resignation to him. But quickly rises a sharp opposition in the country on behalf of the press and of the journalist John Wilkes, it was the beginning of the Affaire Wilkes which brings into play freedom of the press, parliamentary inviolability and the right of the voters to choose their representatives.
1761 : George III marries on September 8th the duchess Charlotte de Mecklembourg-Strelitz; from this union were born 15 children.
1788, the king, 50 years old, is victim of an acute bilieuse attack. As from this date, he was regarded as a “sovereign in danger” by his close relations and his doctors. As of 1789, the question of regency was posed.
1801 : January 1st, Georges III gives up his claims on the throne of France. He undergoes a new attack.
1810 : George III is recognized insane, but it makes some would act of the acute Porphyrie intermittent, a rare genetic disease concerning with the metabolism.
1812 : it becomes blind, this total blindness constitutes the ultimate phase of the porphyrie.
1820 : a few days before his death, the king undergoes his last attack. After 58 hours without sleep, it sank in the coma and died out with Windsor.

The disease of George III with the cinema

In 1994 a film treats disease of the king, the film has as an original title The Madness off king George , translated by the Madness of the king French George . It was carried out by Nicholas Hytner. The actor Nigel Hawthorne holds to with it the main role, assisted by Helen Mirren which plays the Charlotte queen, as Rupert Everett which interprets the prince of Wales.

Internal bonds

Georges Ier of Great Britain, first king of the dynasty of the Hanover.

External sources and bonds

en.wikipedi.org

History of Great Britain of François Bédarida and Jean-Philippe Broom (Editions Larousse) 1978

Simple: George III off the United Kingdom

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