5 fascinating facts about George III
George III is the best-known of Britain’s Hanoverian kings, but there was much more to him than his ‘madness’ and loss of the American colonies.
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George III, who reigned from 25th October 1760 until his death on 29th January 1820, holds a unique place in popular culture.
This British king — the longest-reigning in history — is remembered for losing the American colonies, as reflected by his quirky appearances in the hit musical Hamilton.
He is also associated today with his episodes of mental illness. This tragic element of his life story inspired the narrative thrust of the Netflix period drama spinoff Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story in 2023.
However, given the sheer length of his reign, it’s surprising how many other aspects of George III have essentially flown under the radar. Here are five things you may not have known about George III.
1. The Gold State Coach was commissioned for him
The Gold State Coach has become iconic due to its appearances at many major royal events, including Charles III’s coronation in May 2023. However, you may not have realised that it was originally meant to make its public debut at George III’s coronation in 1761.
So, what happened? Alas, the coach was built (out of gilded wood rather than actual gold) for this special occasion but not finished on time.
George first used it for a State Opening of Parliament shortly afterward. Today, the public can see the coach on display in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace — and imagine the young king sitting in the carriage.
2. He made his former tutor a prime minister
Imagine becoming king of the United Kingdom and then asking one of your former teachers to head your government. That’s basically what George did when he made John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, prime minister in 1762.
Bute had been a close friend of George’s father Frederick before the latter’s untimely death in 1751. Bute was subsequently appointed tutor to the young George, at that time the Prince of Wales and immediate heir to the throne.
Upon becoming king, George inherited his predecessor (and grandfather) George II’s prime minister, the Duke of Newcastle. Despite having steered Britain to success in the Seven Years’ War, Newcastle was dismissed by the new king, who besmirched him as a 'knave'.
3. He bought Buckingham Palace (sort of)
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t known as Buckingham Palace when George acquired it in 1761. Neither did it really resemble the ornate palace now famous around the world.
Instead, it was a much smaller building known as Buckingham House. Having been constructed in 1703 for the then-Duke of Buckingham, it eventually became a private residence for George’s wife Queen Charlotte. Henceforth, it was referred to as ‘the Queen’s House’.
Neither Charlotte nor George lived to see the residence even vaguely take the shape familiar to us today. It wasn’t until the reign of their son, George IV, in the 1820s, that architect John Nash added large wings to the core structure.
4. He was nicknamed ‘Farmer George’
The above-mentioned Bridgerton spinoff took many liberties with its reinterpretation of George III’s early life. However, the scenes of him working the land are rooted in fact.
The real George had a dedicated interest in agricultural pursuits, leading him to develop the farmland on his crown estates at Richmond and Windsor. As a result, he was nicknamed ‘Farmer George’ — at first derisively by satirists perceiving the king to be overly preoccupied with mundane issues.
Over time, it took on a much more affectionate tone. Indeed, this is how the young Queen Charlotte memorably refers to the moniker in Bridgerton.
That’s not the only alternative name George picked up due to his passion for agriculture. He also published his written opinions on the subject pseudonymously as ‘Ralph Robinson’.
5. The US Declaration of Independence brands George a ‘tyrant’
George III was on the throne during a wide range of world-shaking events, including the American Revolution. This culminated in 13 North American colonies breaking away from British rule and forming the United States of America.
Provoked by unpopular taxation policies imposed by their masters on the other side of the Atlantic, the American colonists issued the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
This document described George III as 'marked by every act which may define a tyrant'. Nonetheless, historians deem such criticism unfair. George arguably behaved more leniently towards the rebels than many contemporary monarchs are likely to have done in his position.
The war was brought to an end with the Treaty of Paris in 1783. George magnanimously responded that he 'would be the first to meet the Friendship of the United States as an independent Power'.
