Changes

==Life==

==Life==

George was born in London as George William Frederick,  the first son of Frederick Lewis, prince of Wales (1707–1751), and his wife, Augusta (1719–1772) of Saxe-Gotha; he was the grandson of king [[George II]]. His education suffered at first from the quarrels between his father his grandfather, and from the folly of his ignorant and overprotective mother. His tutors were political appointees and usually of little ability, while the small group gathered around his mother thought very highly of Bolingbroke's Patriot King and urged young George to follow its precepts.  

George was born in London as George William Frederick,  the first son of Frederick Lewis, prince of Wales (1707–1751), and his wife, Augusta (1719–1772) of Saxe-Gotha; he was the grandson of king [[George II]]. His education suffered at first from the quarrels between his father his grandfather, and from the folly of his ignorant and overprotective mother. His tutors were political appointees and usually of little ability, while the small group gathered around his mother thought very highly of Bolingbroke's Patriot King and urged young George to follow its precepts.  

==King==

==King==

Following Bolingbroke's advice when he succeeded his grandfather as king in 1760, he tried to rule through ministers of his own choosing. In 1761 he brought about the resignations of the rather domineering [[William Pitt]] and of Newcastle, who had long controlled the bribery that held [[Whigs|Whig]] majorities together. George was able to do this partly because he took control of the Crown patronage and so could build up a party devoted to his wishes, and partly because the Whig oligarchy was divided into bitterly opposed factions that could be played off against each other. Thus the king recovered some of the constitutional authority that had been lost by [[George I]] and [[George II]] since 1714. From 1760 to 1780 he dismissed and appointed ministers at his pleasure and dictated their general policy.  

Following Bolingbroke's advice when he succeeded his grandfather as king in 1760, he tried to rule through ministers of his own choosing. In 1761 he brought about the resignations of the rather domineering [[William Pitt]] and of Newcastle, who had long controlled the bribery that held [[Whigs|Whig]] majorities together. George was able to do this partly because he took control of the Crown patronage and so could build up a party devoted to his wishes, and partly because the Whig oligarchy was divided into bitterly opposed factions that could be played off against each other. Thus the king recovered some of the constitutional authority that had been lost by [[George I]] and [[George II]] since 1714. From 1760 to 1780 he dismissed and appointed ministers at his pleasure and dictated their general policy.  

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 partially curtailed. Throughout his reign as King, George opposed the abolition of slavery or even the slave trade, even though Pitt was in the pro-abolition camp. Also, in 1801 the king blocked Catholic emancipation and in 1804 refused to approve [[Charles James Fox]] as a minister.

==Insanity==

==Insanity==