George III (1738 - 1820)


During George's reign Britain lost its American colonies but emerged as a leading power in Europe.

George III was 12 when his father died, leaving him heir to the throne. Inexperience led him to choose the Earl of Bute as his first chief minister. Bute was a poor choice, isolating George from senior politicians. Effective government became almost impossible and George was increasingly vilified. The instability following Bute's resignation in 1763 did little to solve the crown's financial difficulties, made worse by the Seven Years' War.

By 1770, George had learned a good deal and appointed Lord North as his chief minister. This was well judged: North had sufficient power to cajole Parliament and his expertise provided 12 years of stable government. The only real cloud was America. Attempts to make the colonials meet their own administrative costs aroused fierce resistance. War began in 1775 but was prolonged in 1779 at the King's insistence, to prevent copycat protests elsewhere. He and North were accused of corruption and North's resignation in 1782 marked a low point in George's reign. North's next move, an alliance with the liberal Whig Charles James Fox, even prompted the king to contemplate abdication.

However, their plans to reform the East India Company led to accusations of corruption and gave George the chance to regain popularity. His forced the bill's defeat in Parliament and the two resigned. In their place he put William Pitt, the Younger. Pitt needed royal support and George needed Pitt to prevent Fox from taking control. The mutually dependent relationship worked well. The combination of Pitt's skill and war with France in 1793 strengthened George's position, but disagreements over emancipation of the Catholics - Pitt was in favour and George vehemently opposed - led to the resignation of both Pitt and a Whig government that followed, in 1806.

Much of the remainder of the King's lifetime was unpleasant. In 1811 the illness he had first experienced in 1788 returned and, after he was acknowledged to be violently insane, Parliament appointed the Prince of Wales (the future George IV) as regent. George remained mostly insane until his death.