Biography of King George III, the king who lost the American colonies By Biography.com, adapted by Newsela staff on 12.08.19 Word Count 695 Level 620L
Image 1. This circa 1765 painting by Allan Ramsay depicts King George III in his coronation robes. Photo courtesy Art Gallery South Australia.
King George III had a fascinating history as ruler of Great Britain.
He ruled during troubled times, including the American Revolutionary War. King George III was the longest-ruling British monarch until Queen Victoria.
Early Life
George William Frederick was born June 4, 1738. He arrived before his due date. The sickly prince wasn't expected to live.
Young George was strongly influenced by his primary teacher, John Stuart. He was a Scottish nobleman, known as Third Earl of Bute. He helped the young prince get over his shyness. Stuart advised George on many matters.
This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. George's father died in 1751. Soon George took the title Duke of Edinburgh. He was just 12 years old. Three weeks later, he was made Prince of Wales by his grandfather, George II. This put him in line to inherit the throne.
Shy And Inexperienced, George Becomes King
In 1760, George's grandfather suddenly died. The 22-year-old became king. A year later, he married Charlotte Sophia. The couple enjoyed a 57-year marriage. They also had 15 children together.
As king, George faced many troubles. A world war was ongoing. There were changing social and religious issues. Since 1754, Britain and France were fighting over land in North America. The Seven Years' War resulted. During that time, Lord Bute closely advised George III. Bute was now prime minister. The king was young and inexperienced. So Bute kept him away from key members of Parliament. However, Bute believed in King George III's holy right to rule. For this, Bute was criticized by other members of Parliament. Bute was eventually forced to quit.
In 1763, George Grenville became King George's prime minister. The Seven Years' War ended. The British empire was deeply in debt. So, Grenville looked to the American colonies to obtain money. British troops were in North America protecting the colonists. So, Grenville believed the colonists should pay for British debt. King George agreed. He supported the Sugar Act of 1764 and the Stamp Act in 1765.
But in the colonies, the Stamp Act was met with outrage and sometimes violence.
The Stamp Act was repealed. However, Parliament passed the Declaratory Act in 1766. It stated the colonies must follow British Law. Parliament then proceeded to pass more tax laws. The protests in the colonies spread.
By 1775, many colonists had had enough of Parliament's overreach. They formed the Second Continental Congress. They wrote a declaration of independence. The colonies and England were officially at war.
By 1779, the war was a lost cause, yet the king insisted it had to be fought. He said he had to avoid rewarding disobedience. On October 19, 1781, French and American forces surrounded the British Army at Yorktown. This ended any chance for a British victory. The Treaty of Paris, in 1783, brought America's independence.
Glory And Insanity
King George III never recovered from the loss of the American colonies. He was bitter for many years.
The British public was bitter with George, too. Yet, in 1783, he was able to turn disaster into triumph at home. Powerful ministers in Parliament hoped to make changes to the East India Company. This corporation carried out British business interests in other lands. Eventually, the company would take over these lands. It was known for unfair and brutal practices.
This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Originally, George supported changes to the company. But soon, he saw the reform as a way to continue Parliament's corrupt behavior. Any minister who supported this plan, he said, was his enemy. The bill was defeated. King George regained some of his popularity with the British people.
In 1788, however, the king experienced severe mental illness. George III got better the following year. He navigated another war with France. George also oversaw Ireland's addition to the United Kingdom.
Death
By 1811, King George's mental illness returned. He was facing personal family tragedies and the pressures of ruling. The king could no longer lead.
Parliament passed the Regency Act. That meant the fate of the empire fell on his oldest son, Prince George.
George III died on January 29, 1820.
This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.