George III (d. 1820)

Biography

George III was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Great Britain and Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, with George as its king. He was concurrently duke and prince-elector of Hanover in the Holy Roman Empire before becoming King of Hanover on 12 October 1814. He was the first monarch of the House of Hanover who was born in Great Britain, spoke English as his first language, and never visited Hanover.

Timeline

The story of George III, told in moments.

1760 Event

Became king at 22 when his grandfather died mid-conversation. George III was shy, stubborn, and obsessed with agriculture. His courtiers called him "Farmer George."

'Farmer George' -- was that an insult or a compliment? Did you enjoy agriculture more than ruling?

1776 Event

Lost the American colonies. He took it personally. His diary entry for July 4, 1776 reads only: "Nothing of importance happened today." He was writing about the weather.

Your diary says nothing happened on July 4, 1776 -- were you writing about the weather? Did losing America feel personal?

1788 Event

First major episode of apparent madness. Talked nonstop for hours, foamed at the mouth, attacked his son. Parliament debated removing him. He recovered and returned.

What was your first episode of madness like from the inside? Did you know what was happening to you?

1811 Event

Declared permanently unfit to rule. His son became Prince Regent. George spent his last nine years blind, deaf, and confined at Windsor Castle, talking to people who weren't there.

What was it like being confined at Windsor for nine years? Were you talking to people who weren't there?

1820 Death

Died at Windsor at 81 after 59 years on the throne. Modern analysis suggests porphyria, not madness. The blue urine was a clue his doctors missed.

If your doctors had known about porphyria, would your life have been different? Is your 'madness' the wrong word entirely?