Frederick, George William
House of Hanover
Anglican
English
King of England (Crowned on September 22, 1761 at Westminster Abbey; ascended to the throne on October 25, 1760.)
- (from 1761 to 1820)
- Windsor Castle, Windsor, England (from 1761 to 1820)
Married to Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, whom he first met on his wedding day, for 57 years. The couple had 15 children including the future Kings George IV and William IV.
George William Frederick (King George III) became heir to the throne of England in 1751 upon the death of his father Frederick, Prince of Wales. He became King George III of England in the fall of 1760 at age 22, following the death of his grandfather King George II. George III passed many important edicts during his reign including that of the Royal Marriage Act of 1772; the Treaty of Paris in 1762, which ended the Seven Years War; the Stamp Act of 1765; and the Townshend Duties of 1767. However, he is most well-known for being the reigning monarch during the Revolutionary War. After the surrender of British forces to the Americans in 1782, George III considered abdicating the throne, but chose not to do so because he felt it would be too detrimental to Britain. The last 30 years of George's life were plagued with illness. In 1788 he had the first of many attacks of insanity, now believed to have been caused by an inherited disease known as porphyria. With George III unfit to rule, it was decided that his son George would become regent, an arrangement which was made permanent in 1810. King George III died on January 29, 1820 at the age of 81 after a reign of nearly 60 years (the third longest in British history). He was succeeded by his son George IV.
The Royal Household, "The British Monarchy: George III (r. 1760-1820)." Last modified 2009. Accessed June 28, 2013. http://www.royal.gov.uk/HistoryoftheMonarchy/KingsandQueensoftheUnitedKingdom/TheHanoverians/GeorgeIII.aspx. ; "Royal Family History: King George III (1760-1820)." Last modified 2010. Accessed June 28, 2013. http://www.britroyals.com/kings.asp?id=george3. The Royal Household, "The British Monarchy: Royal Residences - Buckingham Palace - History." Last modified 2009. Accessed June 28, 2013. http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/BuckinghamPalace/History.aspx.
King George III purchased Buckingham Palace in 1761 for his wife Queen Charlotte.