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British Literature Survey
Reference Pages: Intellectual Disability Group
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King
George III
by Blake Strickland
Born
in 1738, George III succeeded his grandfather, George II, as king of England.
While his domestic life proved rather peaceful, his time as king was much
more chaotic. After taking the throne in 1760 at the age of 22, George III
married Charlotte Sophia and together they had 15 children. George III’s
career as king is looked at as being somewhat unstable at times, especially
in the beginning, but is generally looked upon as a success. Despite the
loss of the American colonies, George III managed to improve England’s
commerce while expanding the English empire using innovative methods. Particularly
notable is the credit George III receives for his part in the founding of
the Royal Academy of Arts (www.royal.gov). His reign is also considered a
time of agricultural improvement as well as a time in which the population
of Great Britain doubled. Despite these seemingly positive accomplishments,
George III was still widely unpopular among his subjects.
The most troubling hindrance to a successful reign was a serious nervous breakdown
in 1788-89 which left George somewhat incapacitated. His state of madness is
now considered to have been a result of a hereditary blood disorder known as
Porphyria (The Columbia Encyclopedia). After being diagnosed with permanent insanity
in 1810, the Prince of Wales, who would later become George IV, was made Regent
and ultimately ruled for his mentally disabled father until his death in 1820.
With the exception of his troubles with madness and intense persistence, George
III was considered an honest and good-natured ruler.
Works Cited
"Kings and Queens of the United Kingdom (from 1603)." 2006.
The Royal Collection. 1 February 2006. http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page111.asp.
“George III.” The Columbia Encyclopedia Online. 2005. The Columbia
Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 1 February 2005. http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/G/Georg3GB.asp.
McCalman, Iain, ed. An Oxford Companion to the Romantic Age British Culture.
New York: Oxford UP, 1999.
“George III.” Britannia Online. 2005. Britannia.com. 1
February
2005. http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon55.html.
Paul
Marchbanks
marchban@email.unc.edu