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A History | Events Leading to the American Revolution | Intolerable Acts |
Insane King George III of England
Insane King George III of England
King George III (known as the king who lost America), was born in 1738. King George III's father, the Prince of
Wales died when he was young. When George III was 22, in 1760, his grandfather, George II, died. On September
8th, 1761 he married Princess Charlotte Sophia from Mecklenburg-Strelitz, in Germany and on September 22nd,
1761, George III became the King of England. George himself was of partial German ancestry. George and
Charlotte had 15 children, one of whom, George IV would be the next king.
King George III sat upon the throne of England from 1760-1820. It was on his watch that the American colonies
were lost. King George III, after the French and Indian War, had large debts to pay, and thought he could
extract the necessary money from the colonies. King George was incensed when the insolent American colonists
objected to the taxes being levied, particularly the Stamp Act. When the Stamp Act was repealed, King George
flew into a rage. King George thought the colonists should be dealt with harshly for their disobedience and
insolence. Using his profound influence, he pushed through the  Townshend Acts, in 1766, taxing many commodity
items including tea resulting in the infamous Boston Tea Party. King George was eventually humbled as the
American colonies successfully became the United States Of America. Other colonies began to rebel after
America's success and King George remained embroiled in one conflict or another for many years.
George III inherited more than just the throne. He also had the royal hereditary disease porphyria which had
afflicted Mary Queen of Scots. She passed it to her son, King James I of England. Porphyria is caused by the
insufficient production of hemoglobin. The symptoms are photosensitivity, strong abdominal pain, port wine
colored urine and paralysis in the arms and legs. The interruption of nerve impulses to the brain causes the
development of psychiatric symptoms. Finally, epileptic convulsions occur and the patient sinks into a coma.
George III's first attack occurred in 1765, four years after his marriage to Queen Charlotte. From 1811 to the
time of his death in 1820 he became progressively insane and blind. He spent his time in isolation, and was
often kept in straight jackets and behind bars in his private apartments at Windsor Castle.
King George III died in 1820, at the age of 82, and his son, George IV, succeeded him. Other members of the
far-flung royal family who suffered from this hereditary disease were Queen Anne of Great Britain; Frederic
the Great of Germany; George IV of Great Britain--son of George III; and George IV's daughter, Princess
Charlotte, who died of the disease at childbirth.
< Portrait of George III, Queen Charlotte and their six eldest children. When George III was pronounced insane
in 1810, Queen Charlotte was given custody - they had been married for nearly 50 years.
George III - From Britannia's guide to the history of England, Wales and Scotland.
George III - Biography from Spartacus Internet Encyclopedia
King George III - Biography from the official site of Queen Elizabeth II
The Madness of King George - First of two articles (follow the link in the page to the second) which describes George's "madness" and how it was treated by his physicians.
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