King George III and the American Revolution

King George III was shrewder, more complex, and more intriguing than we often acknowledge. He was king for sixty years, from 1760 to 1820. He was frugal in an age of excess, pious at a time of impiety. He despised disorder and loathed disobedience.

[allies]

A lot of people thought that King George lll went mad due to the colonies winning their independence. However, he went insane due to the deaths of 3 of his children: Octavius, Alfred, and Amelia, the last of which sent him over the edge. It was reported in the press of the day, that the king would go around the house calling for his beloved daughter, who he believed was simply hiding from him.

[clifftrainor]

“She produced children with lunar regularity”
Okay, that’s so genius I’ve GOT to use it 😂

[SiIverBacks]

That scene in john adams when he bows to king george iii and their discussion left me wanting, fabulous performance there by both

[brianmatyas]

He loathed dissent. Had he been more of a negotiator, it's entirely possible that the USA may have developed the way that Canada did. The English Parliament learned from their historical mistakes and were not about to repeat the mistakes in 1867 that their forefathers made in 1776. This is why Canada belongs to the Commonwealth, the US does not.

[nick]

"She produced children with lunar regularity" the proper british way of saying King George couldn't pull out of his driveway😂

[CaptCrewSock]

I’ve only started to study about King George and so far I’m impressed, he seemed as though he took his office serious and understood the importance of his work in his time and how he would anchor the future of the empire.

[anthonybluhm]

"Peevish, but rarely bellicose."
Thanks for that.

[ferdinandvonzeppelin]

The musical Hamilton took gross liberties with historical truth?
I, for one, am SHOCKED!

[keithdean]

15 children, nice to know what his hobby was. LOL

Seriously though, my Grandmother's family had a farm that they got through a land grant from George III and it stayed in their family until the early 20th century.

[LightDragon]

That was very interesting. I feel like, in looking at historical characters, we often are quick to deify or demonize them, but in reality, they're like all humans: mixtures of good and evil, virtues and vices, strengths and flaws, capable of both performing noble deeds as well as making terrible mistakes. It was nice to see a more holistic representation of a historical figure who is often vilified in American history courses.

[alansunter]

One of my favourite movies of all time is 'The Madness of King George' (the big screen adaptation of the excellent stage play 'The Madness of George III'). I cannot recommend it enough.

[dannyp]

Has anyone seen the clocks King George lll made himself, seriously exceptional work I was so impressed.

[veanwhitcher]

I have always admired George the third, it's easy to understand why he wanted to keep America in The Empire( though I'm thankful for The success of the Revolution). I'm glad you are expounding upon his true character, which was for the most part, very admirable.

[jackbuckley]

This was excellent, conveying more perception & insight into George III's personality, character, and mindset in only a few minutes, compared with many other docs of much longer duration.

[themadoneplays]

King George III is hilarious in Hamilton though, sure not historically accurate but still funny as heck :D

[johnwilletts]

My home town of Rotherham Yorkshire England also played a significant role in achieving American freedom. The Patriot movement started as a part of the English Whig Party in 1740. These Liberal Whigs were seeking to extend democracy, reduce the power of the King, end taxation without representation, end slavery and form a sort of United Nations of Democratic Countries. They also believed that freeing America was not only right and moral, but trade with a free and friendly America would be good for the economy. Rotherham was the epicentre of much of this activity. Rotherham’s Earl of Effingham built a monument to the Boston Tea Party. Called Boston Castle, it still dominates the town from a hilltop today. Effingham city Illinois, was named for him, along with at least two counties and three warships. But the local resident who had the most impact was the Marquess of Rockingham. In 1781 the Tory government began to fall apart. Whig Rockingham was invited to become Prime Minister. He did so on two conditions - economic reform at home and that he be allowed to free America.
This was immediately after the defeat at Yorktown. The Tories were planning to send more troops. Rockingham stopped the fighting in America, but continued the war with France, Spain and Holland. Following the peace treaty of 1783 America became free and that profitable trade started immediately. A Victory Arch was built at Parlington Hall Yorkshire to celebrate American Liberty ( google it). I spent lockdown writing a little book on all this titled ‘Rotherham and the creation of the USA’. It is being published by our local civic society.

[johnwilletts]

Nothing illustrates the feelings of British Whigs at the outbreak of war than this newspaper story dated June 5th 1775 (The Public Advertiser of London). “At a special meeting this day of several members of the Constitutional Society, during an adjournment, a gentleman proposed that a subscription should be immediately entered into for raising the sum of one hundred pounds to be applied to the relief of widows, orphans and aged parents of our beloved American fellow-subjects who faithful to the character of Englishmen, preferring death to slavery, were for that reason only, inhumanly murdered by the King’s Troops at or near Lexington and Concord in the province of Massachusetts on 19th April”. The sum was collected immediately and sent to Benjamin Franklin.

[EndOfSmallSanctuary]

I highly recommend the book "The Strangest Family: The Private Lives of George III, Queen Charlotte and the Hanoverians" by Janice Hadlow. Goes into great detail about the private lives of George III and his family, and shows a much more human, sympathetic side to him than probably any other history ever written.

[johnwilletts]

“The good of Democracy is Liberty and the Courage and Industry that Liberty begets”. - Written by King George 111.

[robertdullnig]

Why do we always talk about George III and not Lord North, the actual leader of Parliament?