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Dromo's Den
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[Up] [Dromo's Den] George II Biography GEORGE II (George Augustus) (1683–1760). King of Great Britain and Ireland, Elector of Hanover (1727–60). The son of the preceding, he was born at Herrenhausen, Hanover, Nov. 10 (n.s.), 1683. After his mother's divorce in 1694, he lived with his grandparents, who superintended his education. On Sept. 2, 1705, he married the Margrave of Anspach's daughter, Carolina Wilhelmina. His code of morals was on a par with his father's, but his wife gained considerable influence over him by condoning his infidelities; and her death, in 1737, which was considered a national loss, he genuinely deplored. In 1708 he joined Marlborough's army and showed conspicuous bravery at Oudenarde, where he narrowly escaped death. At his father's accession to the throne he was created Prince of Wales. Owing to his affection for his mother, he had never been on good terms with his father, who connived at a plot for his forcible disappearance. Their mutual repugnance increased when the King, during his visits to Hanover, was averse to appointing the Prince guardian of the realm. The Prince supported the opposition party, but at his father's death, in 1727, was persuaded by the Queen to retain Walpole in power. Walpole's administration was distinguished by the preservation of peace, and his unwillingness to declare war with Spain led to his resignation in 1742. He was succeeded by Carteret, who favored a war policy. Anxious for the safety of Hanover, the King made an alliance with Maria Theresa of Austria in the Silesian Wars, and at Dettingen, in 1743, commanded the victorious army in person. The Young Pretender's rebellion in 1745—46 was suppressed at Culloden by the Duke of Cumberland, the King's second son. England joined Prussia in the Seven Years' War, which brought about the downfall of the colonial power of France. In 1757, by the victory of Plassey, Clive laid the foundations of the Indian Empire, and in 1759 Wolfe's victory on the heights above Quebec achieved the conquest of Canada. In 1749 the funds rose above par, and Pelham effected an appreciable reduction of the national debt by reducing the interest from 4 to 3 per cent. George II, although a mediocrity and possessed of an obstinate temper, was always sagacious enough to perceive the superior wisdom and prudence in the counsels offered by his ministers and acceded to their advice, to the material benefit and industrial progress of the country. At the end of his reign Pitt conducted the affairs of the nation. George II died suddenly from rupture of the heart, Oct. 25, 1760, at Kensington. Consult: Hervey, Memoirs of the Reign of George II (London, 1854); Walpole, Memoirs of the Last Ten Years of the Reign of George II (ib., 1822, 1846); Schmucker, History of the Four Georges (New York, 1860); Thackeray, Four Georges (London, 1861); McCarthy, History of the Four Georges and William IV (ib., 1884–1901); Jesse, Memoirs of the Court of England from the Revolution of 1688 to the Death of George II (ib., 1843); Сохе, Memoirs of the Life and Administration of Sir Robert Walpole (ib., 1798); id., Memoirs of Horatio, Lord Walpole (ib., 1802); Wilkins, Caroline the Illustrious (New York, 1904); Lucas, George II and his Ministers (London, 1910). The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. IX (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 614-615. |