January 29 - Death of King George III

This Day in History: 29 January 2020

 

29 January 1820

 

200 years ago, today, King George III died, at the age of 82, ten years after his retirement from public life due to mental illness. 60 years prior, George succeeded his grandfather, George II, at the age of 20, as King of Great Britain and Ireland. He wanted to govern more directly than his grandfather had, but George III was unable to find any minister whom he could ensure his trust. This was until 1770, when Lord North was appointed as his chief minister, and so in this role, managed Parliament, and was ready to follow royal leadership. However, George's force against the American colonies at the time led to the outbreak of the American War for Independence.

 

England lost their most profitable colonies, which caused the opposition against King George to grow, and after William Pitt's rise to parliament as Prime Minister, George retired from active participation in government, with the exception of the intervention in major events. Unfortunately, in 1765, the King suffered a nervous breakdown, and experienced a longer mental illness in late 1788, suggested by many that the cause was the hereditary disease porphyria, a defect in the blood that, when not treated, can cause mental illness. He then spent the remainder of his life with his wife, Charlotte Sophia, and after his retirement, his son, the Prince of Wales, was named regent. Upon George's death, his son ascended to the throne as King George IV.

 

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