George III
The British king whose long reign was defined by the loss of the American colonies and a struggle with a mysterious, debilitating illness.
1738–1820 (age 82)·King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 to 1820·Birthday: June 4
Biography
George III’s six-decade rule was one of the most turbulent in British history, a period of seismic global change. He was the first Hanoverian monarch born in England, speaking English as his first language, and he cultivated an image as a devoted family man and farmer, earning the nickname 'Farmer George.' His reign, however, was dominated by conflict. The costly Seven Years' War was followed by the American Revolutionary War, which resulted in the loss of thirteen colonies—a defeat that haunted him. Later, he presided over the lengthy wars against revolutionary and Napoleonic France. From the 1780s onward, the king suffered recurrent bouts of a painful illness that caused mental confusion, violent agitation, and temporary blindness. His final descent into permanent dementia in 1811 led to his son becoming Prince Regent. Modern medical analysis suggests he likely suffered from porphyria, a blood disorder, though bipolar disorder has also been proposed. His personal tragedy became a national spectacle, shaping the monarchy and the Regency era.
#1 When George Was Born
The biggest hits of 1738
George's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1738Born
1743Started school
1751Became a teenager
1754Could drive
1756Could vote
1759Turned 21
1768Turned 30
1778Turned 40
1788Turned 50
1798Turned 60
1808Turned 70
1818Turned 80
1820Died at 82
Key Achievements
- Presided over the unification of Great Britain and Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801.
- Was the patron of the 'King's Library,' a massive collection of over 65,000 books he donated to the British Museum.
- Reigned during the height of the Agricultural Revolution and took a keen personal interest in farming and scientific advancement.
- His long rule provided stability during the era of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, despite his personal illness.
Did You Know?
He was a passionate collector of books, clocks, and scientific instruments, and helped found the Royal Academy of Arts.
He married Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz sight-unseen, and their marriage was notably happy, producing 15 children.
He never once visited the German electorate of Hanover, which he also ruled.
The famous 'Madness of King George' was treated with methods that included straitjackets, forced feedings, and leeches.
““I was the last to consent to the separation; but the separation having been made and having become inevitable, I have always said, as I say now, that I would be the first to meet the friendship of the United States as an independent power.””
