{"id":8782,"date":"2022-01-11T17:18:48","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T16:18:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/?p=196811"},"modified":"2022-01-11T17:39:10","modified_gmt":"2022-01-11T16:39:10","slug":"george-ii-8-facts-about-the-british-king-and-german-elector","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/rss_feed\/george-ii-8-facts-about-the-british-king-and-german-elector\/","title":{"rendered":"George II: 8 facts about the British king and German elector"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"rssexcerpt\"><\/p><p class=\"rssauthor\">By Elinor Evans\n                \t\t<\/p><p class=\"rssbyline\">Published: Tuesday, 11 January 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p><hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p>The man destined to be the second Hanoverian king George Augustus, or Georg August in German, was the only son of the future elector of Hanover and George I. A name is essentially the only thing the two men shared, as they had a fractious relationship \u2013 the elder George banished his son from court and kept his children, which he had with his wife Caroline, under guardianship.<\/p>\n<p>George succeeded his father in 1727 and ruled as King of Great Britain, as well as a prince-elector of the <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/period\/early-modern\/holy-roman-empire-facts-what-when-how-long-name-called-emperors\/&quot;\">Holy Roman Empire<\/a>, until his death in 1760. He was not overly popular among his subjects due to his periods away from Britain, so it was up to the queen to govern as regent. But he exerted his influence over foreign policy as Britain became involved in the Wars of Jenkins\u2019 Ear and Austrian Succession during his reign, and he defended the monarchy against the <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/period\/georgian\/jacobites-rebellions-when-why-fail-bonnie-prince-charlie-stuarts\/&quot;\">Jacobite rebellion<\/a> of 1745.<\/p>\n<section class=\"&quot;highlight\"><div class=\"&quot;highlight__content\" editor-content=\"\"> <h4>George II: key dates and facts<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Born:<\/strong> 10 November 1683, in Hanover, Germany<\/p>\n<p><strong>Died:<\/strong> 25 October 1760, in London, England\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reigned:<\/strong> King of Great Britain and Ireland, Prince-Elector of Hanover, 1727-60<\/p>\n<p><strong>Parents:<\/strong> George I of Great Britain and Sophia Dorothea of Celle<\/p>\n<p><strong>Spouse:<\/strong> Caroline of Ansbach (m1705\u201337)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Children:<\/strong> Frederick, Prince of Wales, and seven others<\/p>\n<p><strong>Religion:<\/strong> Protestant\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Succeeded by:<\/strong> His grandson, <a href=\"&quot;..\/period\/georgian\/history-explorer-the-decline-of-george-iii\/&quot;\">George III<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <\/p><\/div> <\/section><p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Here are eight facts about the king and elector, George II\u2026<\/strong><br\/><\/p><div class=\"&quot;listicle&quot;\"> <span class=\"&quot;listicle__count&quot;\">1<\/span> <h3 class=\"&quot;listicle__title\" heading-3=\"\">He is the last foreign-born British monarch<\/h3>\n<\/div> <p>George Augustus was born on 10 November 1683 to George Louis of Brunswick-Luneberg and his wife Sophia Dorothea of Celle in the German city of Hanover. To date, he is the last British monarch not born in Britain. His eventual successor would be his grandson, another George, who was born in 1738 in Norfolk House, London. Every monarch since has been born in or around the capital, except for <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/period\/20th-century\/george-vi-biography-facts-key-moments-life-king-stammer-guide\/&quot;\">George VI<\/a> (r 1936-52), who was born at Sandringham.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<br\/><\/p><div class=\"&quot;listicle&quot;\"> <span class=\"&quot;listicle__count&quot;\">2<\/span> <h3 class=\"&quot;listicle__title\" heading-3=\"\">George\u2019s first language was not English\u2026 or German<\/h3>\n<\/div> <p>Growing up in Hanover, it is unsurprising that George\u2019s first words weren\u2019t in English. He was not expected to take the throne of Britain \u2013 that came about by his distant cousin, <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/period\/stuart\/queen-anne-facts-life-favourites-duchess-marlborough-union-england-scotland\/&quot;\">Queen Anne<\/a>, dying without an heir and the Act of Settlement 1701 named George I as heir. But the young George did not learn German first, either. He grew up initially speaking French, seen as the noble language of the Hanoverian court and diplomacy, and started learning German second at the age of four. As part of his education, which included history and military tactics, he would then go on to be taught English and Italian.<\/p>\n<p>George continued conversing in French, though, and that would be the language of choice for his letters to his wife Caroline.<\/p>\n<div class=\"&quot;image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--aspect=\"\" style=\"&quot;padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-51244848-19a9442-e1641917349126.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=166%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-51244848-19a9442-e1641917349126.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=166%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-51244848-19a9442-e1641917349126.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=196%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-51244848-19a9442-e1641917349126.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=196%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-51244848-19a9442-e1641917349126.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=224%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-51244848-19a9442-e1641917349126.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=224%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-51244848-19a9442-e1641917349126.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=307%2C369&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-51244848-19a9442-e1641917349126.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=307%2C369&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-51244848-19a9442-e1641917349126.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=344%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-51244848-19a9442-e1641917349126.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=344%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-51244848-19a9442-e1641917349126.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=225%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-51244848-19a9442-e1641917349126.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=225%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-51244848-19a9442-e1641917349126.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=308%2C370&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-51244848-19a9442-e1641917349126.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=308%2C370&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><img class=\"&quot;wp-image-196822\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-51244848-19a9442-e1641917349126.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=344%2C413&quot;\" width=\"&quot;620&quot;\" height=\"&quot;413&quot;\" alt=\"&quot;Caroline\" of=\"\" ansbach=\"\" title=\"&quot;Caroline\" wife=\"\" george=\"\" ii=\"\" c1720.=\"\" by=\"\" hulton=\"\" archive=\"\" images=\"\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\"&quot;caption-hold&quot;\"><figcaption class=\"&quot;wp-caption-text&quot;\"><span class=\"&quot;caption-copy&quot;\"><i class=\"&quot;icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> Caroline of Ansbach, wife of George II, c1720. (Photo by Hulton Archive\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\"&quot;im-image-caption&quot;\"\/><\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<br\/><\/p><div class=\"&quot;listicle&quot;\"> <span class=\"&quot;listicle__count&quot;\">3<\/span> <h3 class=\"&quot;listicle__title\" heading-3=\"\">The rivalry with his father led to tensions with the prime minister<\/h3>\n<\/div> <p>While he was Prince of Wales, George\u2019s residence in London, Leicester House, turned into something of a rival court and the base for a dissident Whig faction opposed to George I\u2019s policies. Among them was Sir <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/period\/georgian\/robert-walpole-first-prime-minister-britain-facts\/&quot;\">Robert Walpole<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It was Walpole who encouraged a reconciliation between the king and his son, for which he was rewarded with royal favour and a ministerial position. He would be the first official prime minister. But the young George, who had agreed to the reconciliation reluctantly, came to believe that Walpole had tricked him in order to seize power for himself. When George became king, he wanted to dismiss Walpole entirely, but Caroline persuaded him not to. And he was surely thankful for that: Walpole, eager to earn the new king\u2019s favour, granted an extravagant civil list (an annual allowance to the crown) of \u00a3800,000.<\/p>\n<ul><li><strong>Read more | <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/period\/georgian\/guide-seven-years-war-french-indian-when-how-long-who-fought\/&quot;\">A guide to the Seven Years\u2019 War<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><br\/><\/p><div class=\"&quot;listicle&quot;\"> <span class=\"&quot;listicle__count&quot;\">4<\/span> <h3 class=\"&quot;listicle__title\" heading-3=\"\">Music, architecture and education received his patronage<\/h3>\n<\/div> <p>In 1737, George founded the first university in the Electorate of Hanover, which still bears his name as the Georg August University of Gottingen, and it was during his reign that the charter for two major US institutions were issued: King\u2019s College in New York, which became Columbia; and the College of New Jersey, now called Princeton.<\/p>\n<div class=\"&quot;image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--aspect=\"\" style=\"&quot;padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-514693328-38d64b2.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=273%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-514693328-38d64b2.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=273%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-514693328-38d64b2.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=324%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-514693328-38d64b2.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=324%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-514693328-38d64b2.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=369%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-514693328-38d64b2.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=369%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-514693328-38d64b2.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=506%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-514693328-38d64b2.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=506%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-514693328-38d64b2.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=567%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-514693328-38d64b2.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=567%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-514693328-38d64b2.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=372%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-514693328-38d64b2.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=372%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-514693328-38d64b2.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=508%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-514693328-38d64b2.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=508%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><img class=\"&quot;wp-image-196821\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-514693328-38d64b2.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=567%2C413&quot;\" width=\"&quot;620&quot;\" height=\"&quot;413&quot;\" alt=\"&quot;The\" library=\"\" of=\"\" columbia=\"\" university=\"\" title=\"&quot;The\" charter=\"\" for=\"\" kings=\"\" college=\"\" in=\"\" new=\"\" york=\"\" which=\"\" became=\"\" was=\"\" issued=\"\" during=\"\" the=\"\" reign=\"\" george=\"\" ii.=\"\" by=\"\" getty=\"\" images=\"\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\"&quot;caption-hold&quot;\"><figcaption class=\"&quot;wp-caption-text&quot;\"><span class=\"&quot;caption-copy&quot;\"><i class=\"&quot;icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> The charter for King\u2019s College in New York, which became Columbia University (pictured) was issued during the reign of George II. (Image by Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\"&quot;im-image-caption&quot;\"\/><\/div>\n<p>A lover of music, especially the opera, George became the patron for the German composer George Friedrich Handel. For George\u2019s coronation in 1727, Handel composed<em> Zadok the Priest<\/em> \u2013 as well as three other so-called Coronation Anthems \u2013 which has been performed at the anointing of every new monarch since. George then commissioned Handel to compose another piece, Music for the Royal Fireworks, to celebrate the end of the War of the Austrian Succession and the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748.<\/p>\n<p>Both George and Caroline shared an interest in architecture. Under their direction, the gardens of Kensington Palace and Hyde Park were extended, which included the creation of the Round Pond and the Serpentine lake. Names like Charles Bridgeman, a pioneer of naturalistic landscape gardening, and William Kent, the architect involved in the refurbishment of Kensington Palace, would help define the Georgian architectural style.<\/p>\n<hr\/><p><strong>Listen | Norman Davies introduces a long-maligned and overlooked monarch, George II, and reveals that there are in fact many reasons to remember his reign, on this episode of the <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/article-type\/podcast\/&quot;\"><em>HistoryExtra<\/em> podcast<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n<iframe title=\"&quot;George\" ii:=\"\" reassessing=\"\" a=\"\" much-forgotten=\"\" monarch=\"\" src=\"&quot;https:\/\/embed.acast.com\/historyextra\/georgeii-reassessingamuch-forgottenmonarch&quot;\" width=\"&quot;100%&quot;\" height=\"&quot;180px&quot;\" scrolling=\"&quot;no&quot;\" frameborder=\"&quot;0&quot;\" style=\"&quot;border:none;overflow:hidden;&quot;\"\/>\n<hr\/><div class=\"&quot;listicle&quot;\"> <span class=\"&quot;listicle__count&quot;\">5<\/span> <h3 class=\"&quot;listicle__title\" heading-3=\"\">George liked his elaborate wigs<\/h3>\n<\/div> <p>While the Georgians are famous for their oversized powdered wigs, George II especially favoured elaborate hairpieces of long, white, curly locks that extended well below his shoulders. The style grew in popularity during his reign as a result. Wigs were a status symbol for the wealthy \u2013 the bigger the wig, the richer the owner.<\/p>\n<p>Although, George was not always careful with his headgear: when throwing a tantrum, something he was liable to do, he would kick his hat or stamp on his wig. Once George\u2019s grandson, George III, took the throne, wigs began to shrink to match the style seen in France.<\/p>\n<div class=\"&quot;image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--aspect=\"\" style=\"&quot;padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-1348847022-75cf7aa-e1641917444397.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=151%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-1348847022-75cf7aa-e1641917444397.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=151%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-1348847022-75cf7aa-e1641917444397.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=179%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-1348847022-75cf7aa-e1641917444397.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=179%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-1348847022-75cf7aa-e1641917444397.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=204%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-1348847022-75cf7aa-e1641917444397.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=204%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-1348847022-75cf7aa-e1641917444397.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=280%2C369&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-1348847022-75cf7aa-e1641917444397.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=280%2C369&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-1348847022-75cf7aa-e1641917444397.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=313%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-1348847022-75cf7aa-e1641917444397.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=313%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-1348847022-75cf7aa-e1641917444397.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=206%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-1348847022-75cf7aa-e1641917444397.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=206%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-1348847022-75cf7aa-e1641917444397.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=281%2C370&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-1348847022-75cf7aa-e1641917444397.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=281%2C370&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><img class=\"&quot;wp-image-196823\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2022\/01\/GettyImages-1348847022-75cf7aa-e1641917444397.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=313%2C413&quot;\" width=\"&quot;620&quot;\" height=\"&quot;413&quot;\" alt=\"&quot;Portrait\" of=\"\" king=\"\" george=\"\" ii=\"\" title=\"&quot;George\" favoured=\"\" elaborate=\"\" hairpieces=\"\" long=\"\" white=\"\" curly=\"\" locks.=\"\" by=\"\" getty=\"\" images=\"\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\"&quot;caption-hold&quot;\"><figcaption class=\"&quot;wp-caption-text&quot;\"><span class=\"&quot;caption-copy&quot;\"><i class=\"&quot;icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> George II favoured elaborate hairpieces of long, white, curly locks. (Image by Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\"&quot;im-image-caption&quot;\"\/><\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<br\/><\/p><div class=\"&quot;listicle&quot;\"> <span class=\"&quot;listicle__count&quot;\">6<\/span> <h3 class=\"&quot;listicle__title\" heading-3=\"\">His marriage went ahead after he had visited his bride-to-be in disguise<\/h3>\n<\/div> <p>In 1705, George became involved in marriage negotiations with Caroline of Ansbach, the former ward of his aunt. It was a sound match politically, but it seemed that George wished to know something about her first. He visited the Ansbach court under a false name so that he could see what she was like.<\/p>\n<p>Besotted by her charming character, good manners and beauty, he agreed to the marriage contract within a month and the pair were married in Hanover in September 1705. Despite having several mistresses during his life, it could be said that George was devoted to Caroline. When she became gravely ill with smallpox in 1707, George stayed by her bedside even though that meant he contracted the disease himself.<\/p>\n<p>The king and queen had a son, Frederick, and then five daughters and two more sons, but complications with the final birth in 1724 would eventually lead to her death, when her strangulated bowel burst, in 1737. When she urged George to remarry after she was gone, he reportedly exclaimed: \u201cNo! I shall have mistresses!\u201d Indeed, the king never remarried.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<br\/><\/p><div class=\"&quot;listicle&quot;\"> <span class=\"&quot;listicle__count&quot;\">7<\/span> <h3 class=\"&quot;listicle__title\" heading-3=\"\">Like his relationship with his father, George II did not get on with his heir<\/h3>\n<\/div> <p>When George and Caroline came to Britain in 1714, their eldest son Frederick remained in Hanover. They did not meet again for 14 years, until George was king. The 21-year-old Frederick quarrelled openly with his father and became the leader of a faction at court that opposed the administration. By 1742, the opposition had gained enough popularity that it was able to force Prime Minister Robert Walpole to resign.<\/p>\n<p>George was not along in his dislike for Frederick. It was an opinion shared with the boy\u2019s own mother Caroline too, allegedly once saying of him: \u201cThere he goes, that wretch, that villain! I wish the ground would open this moment and sink the monster to the lowest hole in hell.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<br\/><\/p><div class=\"&quot;listicle&quot;\"> <span class=\"&quot;listicle__count&quot;\">8<\/span> <h3 class=\"&quot;listicle__title\" heading-3=\"\">George does not have a major monument celebrating his reign<\/h3>\n<\/div> <p>After 33 years on the throne, George II died on 25 October 1760 shortly before turning 77. Frederick had predeceased him, so his grandson George inherited the throne. Despite the poor reputation of his usual historical legacy, George II made some considerable achievements during his reign, such as being the last reigning British sovereign to lead an army personally when he fought at the battle of Dettingen in 1743.<\/p>\n<p>Also, the monarchy survived the Jacobite rebellion of 1745, when the \u2018Young Pretender\u2019 Charles Edward Stuart, better known as <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/period\/georgian\/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-bonnie-prince-charlie-and-the-jacobites\/&quot;\">Bonnie Prince Charlie<\/a>, invaded England to overthrow the Hanoverian regime.<\/p>\n<p>Yet no grand or magnificent memorial exists for the second King George. Inside <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/period\/medieval\/brief-history-westminster-abbey-london-henry-iii-service\/&quot;\">Westminster Abbey<\/a> is a large statue of Handel, George\u2019s patron, but for George himself is nothing other than a small tile on the floor of the Lady Chapel. Below that spot he is buried alongside his wife, Caroline. It was his wish that the sides of their coffins be removed so that their remains could mix and be together forevermore.<\/p>\n<p><strong>These facts were partially excerpted from <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/period\/georgian\/george-ii-reassessing-forgotten-monarch-podcast-norman-davies\/&quot;\">an interview with Norman Davies<\/a>, Professor Emeritus of the University of London, who authored<em>\u00a0George II: Not Just A British Monarch<\/em>\u00a0(2021), part of the\u00a0Penguin Monarchs series<\/strong><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Elinor Evans Published: Tuesday, 11 January 2022 at 12:00 am The man destined to be the second Hanoverian king George Augustus, or Georg August in German, was the only son of the future elector of Hanover and George I. A name is essentially the only thing the two men shared, as they had a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":8783,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"8"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/01\/george-ii-8-facts-about-the-british-king-and-german-elector.jpg",1024,755,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/01\/george-ii-8-facts-about-the-british-king-and-german-elector-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/01\/george-ii-8-facts-about-the-british-king-and-german-elector-300x221.jpg",300,221,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/01\/george-ii-8-facts-about-the-british-king-and-german-elector-768x566.jpg",768,566,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/01\/george-ii-8-facts-about-the-british-king-and-german-elector.jpg",800,590,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/01\/george-ii-8-facts-about-the-british-king-and-german-elector.jpg",1024,755,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/01\/george-ii-8-facts-about-the-british-king-and-german-elector.jpg",1024,755,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Elinor Evans Published: Tuesday, 11 January 2022 at 12:00 am The man destined to be the second Hanoverian king George Augustus, or Georg August in German, was the only son of the future elector of Hanover and George I. A name is essentially the only thing the two men shared, as they had a&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/8782"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}