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'''George III''' (George William Frederick; June 4, 1738 – January 29, 1820) was king of Great Britain and Ireland and elector of Hanover for 60 momentous years (1760-1820), and was insane off and on after 1788.  His son and successor [[George IV]] acted as regent during the insane years. George III's reign is noted for losing the first [[British Empire]] with a defeat in the [[American Revolution]], the building of a second empire based in India, Asia and Africa, the beginnings of the [[industrial revolution]] that made Britain an economic powerhouse, and above all the life and death struggle with the French, 1793-1815, which ended with the defeat of [[Napoleon]] in 1815.   

'''George III''' (George William Frederick; June 4, 1738 – January 29, 1820) was king of Great Britain and Ireland and elector of Hanover for 60 momentous years (1760-1820), and was insane off and on after 1788.  His son and successor [[George IV]] acted as regent during the insane years. George III's reign is noted for losing the first [[British Empire]] with a defeat in the [[American Revolution]], the building of a second empire based in India, Asia and Africa, the beginnings of the [[industrial revolution]] that made Britain an economic powerhouse, and above all the life and death struggle with the French, 1793-1815, which ended with the defeat of [[Napoleon]] in 1815.   

He was the last powerful king in Britain.  He misused his powers by bribing politicians, promoting favorites such as Lord Germain, and interfering with the politicians trying to run the government and the [[British Empire]]. After he lapsed into insanity, and was followed by several debauched incompetents, there was no one who wanted a king to be make any serious decisions. George III did help make the Crown into a glittering ornament, the centerpiece of increasing elaborate ceremonies and today the basis of a major tourism industry. However he also was a patron of the sciences and the first English speaking monarch of Britain since Queen Anne. He was a staunch opponent of the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. <ref>http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/history/world/wh0156.htm</ref>

He was the last powerful king in Britain.  He misused his powers by bribing politicians, promoting favorites such as Lord Germain, and interfering with the politicians trying to run the government and the [[British Empire]]. After he lapsed into insanity, and was followed by several debauched incompetents, there was no one who wanted a king to be make any serious decisions. George III did help make the Crown into a glittering ornament, the centerpiece of increasing elaborate ceremonies and today the basis of a major tourism industry. However he also was a patron of the sciences and the first English speaking monarch of Britain since Queen Anne. He was a staunch opponent of the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror.<ref>http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/history/world/wh0156.htm</ref>

[[Image:GEORGE3.JPG|thumb|250px]]

[[Image:GEORGE3.JPG|thumb|250px]]

===American Revolution===

===American Revolution===

George controlled the policies to reassert imperial control over the restive colonies that caused the [[American Revolution]] in 1775; most Britons supported the king, though a vocal minority protested that the Americans had strong claims to the rights of Englishmen.  The war became a personal issue for the king, fueled by his growing belief that British leniency would be taken as weakness and would undercut his authority at home. The king also sincerely believed he was defending Britain's constitution against usurpers, rather than opposing patriots fighting for their natural rights.<ref> Andrew Jackson O'Shaughnessy, "'If Others Will Not Be Active, I must Drive': George III and the American Revolution." ''Early American Studies''  2004 2(1): I, 1-46. Issn: 1543-4273 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]; by contrast P. D. G. Thomas, "George III and the American Revolution." ''History''  1985 70(228): 16-31, says the king played a minor role and did not harass the colonists before 1775. </ref>  

George controlled the policies to reassert imperial control over the restive colonies that caused the [[American Revolution]] in 1775; most Britons supported the king, though a vocal minority protested that the Americans had strong claims to the rights of Englishmen.  The war became a personal issue for the king, fueled by his growing belief that British leniency would be taken as weakness and would undercut his authority at home. The king also sincerely believed he was defending Britain's constitution against usurpers, rather than opposing patriots fighting for their natural rights.<ref>Andrew Jackson O'Shaughnessy, "'If Others Will Not Be Active, I must Drive': George III and the American Revolution." ''Early American Studies''  2004 2(1): I, 1-46. Issn: 1543-4273 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]; by contrast P. D. G. Thomas, "George III and the American Revolution." ''History''  1985 70(228): 16-31, says the king played a minor role and did not harass the colonists before 1775.</ref>  

Americans were slow to appreciate the king was not their ally; they had hailed him in 1766 as the 'Patriot King' when the [[Stamp Act of 1765]] was repealed by the Rockingham ministry, unaware he had privately opposed its lifting. The king was delighted by the series of tough acts of Parliament passed in 1774 collectively known as the Coercive Acts, which were the immediate cause of revolt. He pressed for the royal [[Proclamation of Rebellion]] of August 1775 that announced that his American subjects were "engaged in open and avowed rebellion."

Americans were slow to appreciate the king was not their ally; they had hailed him in 1766 as the 'Patriot King' when the [[Stamp Act of 1765]] was repealed by the Rockingham ministry, unaware he had privately opposed its lifting. The king was delighted by the series of tough acts of Parliament passed in 1774 collectively known as the Coercive Acts, which were the immediate cause of revolt. He pressed for the royal [[Proclamation of Rebellion]] of August 1775 that announced that his American subjects were "engaged in open and avowed rebellion."

During the war the king refused to compromise and selected inept ministers who caused disaster aster disaster, including the formation of a powerful coalition in support of the Americans, the loss of traditional allies in Euurope, and the surrender of two main invasion armies at Saratoga (1777) and Yorktown (1781). George wanted to send more soldiers but he lost control of Parliament and his Prime Minister [[Lord North]] was forced to resign. Negotiations that led to the Treaty of Paris in 1783 proved highly favorable to the Americans.

During the war the king refused to compromise and selected inept ministers who caused disaster aster disaster, including the formation of a powerful coalition in support of the Americans, the loss of traditional allies in Euurope, and the surrender of two main invasion armies at Saratoga (1777) and Yorktown (1781). George wanted to send more soldiers but he lost control of Parliament and his Prime Minister [[Lord North]] was forced to resign. Negotiations that led to the Treaty of Paris in 1783 proved highly favorable to the Americans.

A constitutional crisis erupted in 1783-4 when the king dismissed the coalition government of [[Charles James Fox]] and [[Lord North]] and supplanted it by one led by [[Chatham|William Pitt the Younger]]. Pitt was faced by a hostile majority in Parliament but within months stabilized his position. Many historians argue that Pitt's success was inevitable given the decisive importance of monarchical power in British politics during the period. Kelly (1981) disputes this view, maintaining that the king gambled on Pitt and that both would have failed but for a run of good fortune.<ref>Paul Kelly, "British Politics, 1783-4: the Emergence and Triumph of the Younger Pitt's Administration." ''Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research'' 1981 54(129): 62-78. Issn: 0020-2894 </ref> Although the king exercised considerable influence in politics from 1783 onward, the emergence of the [[Chatham|younger Pitt]], who had secured his majority in 1784 through royal support, meant that the king's power of interference was curtailed. Yet, in 1801 the king blocked Catholic emancipation and in 1804 refused to approve [[Charles James Fox]] as a minister.

A constitutional crisis erupted in 1783-4 when the king dismissed the coalition government of [[Charles James Fox]] and [[Lord North]] and supplanted it by one led by [[Chatham|William Pitt the Younger]]. Pitt was faced by a hostile majority in Parliament but within months stabilized his position. Many historians argue that Pitt's success was inevitable given the decisive importance of monarchical power in British politics during the period. Kelly (1981) disputes this view, maintaining that the king gambled on Pitt and that both would have failed but for a run of good fortune.<ref>Paul Kelly, "British Politics, 1783-4: the Emergence and Triumph of the Younger Pitt's Administration." ''Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research'' 1981 54(129): 62-78. Issn: 0020-2894</ref> Although the king exercised considerable influence in politics from 1783 onward, the emergence of the [[Chatham|younger Pitt]], who had secured his majority in 1784 through royal support, meant that the king's power of interference was curtailed. Yet, in 1801 the king blocked Catholic emancipation and in 1804 refused to approve [[Charles James Fox]] as a minister.

==Insanity==

==Insanity==

George's desire to identify the monarchy with national achievement and visible splendor was evident from the start of his reign. Individual and organized patriotism was increasing, and the king represented reassuring stability in the midst of national flux and humiliation following Britain's declining fortunes and eventual defeat in the war of American independence. After 1780 royal resurgence was also part of the conservative reaction to the [[French Revolution]]. Newspapers were important to royal propaganda and display, as was civic pride, a growth in the number of voluntary organizations, increased rapport between a variety of religious interests and royalty, and the wartime context of much of George III's reign.  

George's desire to identify the monarchy with national achievement and visible splendor was evident from the start of his reign. Individual and organized patriotism was increasing, and the king represented reassuring stability in the midst of national flux and humiliation following Britain's declining fortunes and eventual defeat in the war of American independence. After 1780 royal resurgence was also part of the conservative reaction to the [[French Revolution]]. Newspapers were important to royal propaganda and display, as was civic pride, a growth in the number of voluntary organizations, increased rapport between a variety of religious interests and royalty, and the wartime context of much of George III's reign.  

George accustomed his subjects to expect a glamorous show from their king amid a steady background of domestic probity. Concurrently, there was a decline in the crown's capacity for positive political power. The monarch began to be viewed as politically neutral while political and social radicals began to abandon the realm of conventional, xenophobic patriotism, leaving the latter to the state authorities and the monarch.<ref> Linda Colley, "The apotheosis of George III: loyalty, royalty, and the British nation, 1760–1820", ''Past and Present'', 102 (1984), 94–129 ·  

George accustomed his subjects to expect a glamorous show from their king amid a steady background of domestic probity. Concurrently, there was a decline in the crown's capacity for positive political power. The monarch began to be viewed as politically neutral while political and social radicals began to abandon the realm of conventional, xenophobic patriotism, leaving the latter to the state authorities and the monarch.<ref>Linda Colley, "The apotheosis of George III: loyalty, royalty, and the British nation, 1760–1820", ''Past and Present'', 102 (1984), 94–129 ·  

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Rejecting high society in London and the lavish luxuries of court life, King George and his consort Queen Charlotte (1744-1818) preferred to live away from London in what Charlotte referred to as their "sweet retreat," allowing them to focus on family and domestic life. This practice helped to revive the reputation and popularity of the monarchy and marked the beginning of the transition to the modern form of the British court. George was the punctual, abstemious, uxorious, musical Hanoverian who liked clocks, disliked gambling and worried about his country's economy, tried to protect his empire, and worried about his eldest son's astronomical debts. Admirers of the sober and prudish king called attention to the loving husband, devoted (albeit domineering) father, connoisseur of fine art, and the patron of literature.  

Rejecting high society in London and the lavish luxuries of court life, King George and his consort Queen Charlotte (1744-1818) preferred to live away from London in what Charlotte referred to as their "sweet retreat," allowing them to focus on family and domestic life. This practice helped to revive the reputation and popularity of the monarchy and marked the beginning of the transition to the modern form of the British court. George was the punctual, abstemious, uxorious, musical Hanoverian who liked clocks, disliked gambling and worried about his country's economy, tried to protect his empire, and worried about his eldest son's astronomical debts. Admirers of the sober and prudish king called attention to the loving husband, devoted (albeit domineering) father, connoisseur of fine art, and the patron of literature.  

In 1819 the poet Shelley had already written his epitaph: "An old, mad, blind, despised, and dying king."    However, recent historians portray a shrewd, cultivated, and well-meaning individual who was widely read and well informed about English history and constitutional law. Contrary to earlier interpretations recent scholars say he did not bend constitutional rules nor did he pursue policies leading to the subversion of British and colonial liberties. The kingship continued to function under George III very much in the same way as under his grandfather, George II.<ref>Ian R. Christie, "George III and the Historians - Thirty Years On." ''History'' 1986 71(232): 205-221. </ref>

In 1819 the poet Shelley had already written his epitaph: "An old, mad, blind, despised, and dying king."    However, recent historians portray a shrewd, cultivated, and well-meaning individual who was widely read and well informed about English history and constitutional law. Contrary to earlier interpretations recent scholars say he did not bend constitutional rules nor did he pursue policies leading to the subversion of British and colonial liberties. The kingship continued to function under George III very much in the same way as under his grandfather, George II.<ref>Ian R. Christie, "George III and the Historians - Thirty Years On." ''History'' 1986 71(232): 205-221.</ref>

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

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{{DEFAULTSORT:George 3}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:George 3}}

[[category:United Kingdom Monarchs]]

[[Category:United Kingdom Monarchs]]

[[Category:British History]]

[[Category:British History]]

[[Category:American Revolution]]

[[Category:American Revolution]]

[[Category:British Empire]]

[[Category:British Empire]]

[[Category:Liberals]]

[[Category:Liberals]]