- 1727-1760: King of Great Britain
- 1727-1760: King of Ireland
- 1727-1760: Elector of Hanover
- George II Augustus Hanover
George II Augustus Hanover, King of Great Britain, was born 30 October 1683 in Herrenhausen Gardens, Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany to George I of Great Britain (1660-1727) and Sophie Dorothea von Braunschweig-Lüneburg (1666-1726) and died 25 October 1760 Kensington Palace, London, England, United Kingdom of aortic dissection. He married Wilhelmine Karoline of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1683-1737) 22 August 1705 in Herrenhausen Gardens, Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Biography
King George II of Great Britain was born on November 10, 1683, in Hanover, Germany. He was the son of the Elector of Hanover and his wife Sophia of the Palatinate. In 1705, he married Caroline of Ansbach, and they had nine children together. He ascended to the British throne in 1727 after the death of his father, King George I.
During his reign, King George II faced numerous challenges, both domestically and abroad. One of his biggest challenges was the ongoing conflict between Britain and France, which led to several major wars, including the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War.
Despite these challenges, King George II oversaw several important developments in Britain, including the establishment of the Royal Society, the construction of several important public buildings, and the expansion of the British Empire.
King George II was also a patron of the arts, and during his reign, the theater and music flourished in Britain. He was a keen supporter of Handel, and his patronage helped to establish the composer's reputation in England.
King George II died on October 25, 1760, while on a visit to his native Hanover. He was succeeded by his grandson, King George III.
Early life
George as a young boy with his mother, Sophia Dorothea of Celle, and his sister, Sophia Dorothea of Hanover
George was born in the city of Hanover in Germany, followed by his sister, Sophia Dorothea, three years later. Their parents, George Louis, Hereditary Prince of Brunswick-Lüneburg (later King George I of Great Britain), and Sophia Dorothea of Celle, both committed adultery. In 1694 the marriage was dissolved on the pretext that Sophia Dorothea had abandoned her husband.[1] She was confined to Ahlden House and denied access to her two children, who probably never saw their mother again.[2]
Marriage
Caroline of Ansbach by Godfrey Kneller, 1716
George's father did not want his son to enter into a loveless arranged marriage as he had and wanted him to have the opportunity of meeting his bride before any formal arrangements were made.[3] Negotiations from 1702 for the hand of Princess Hedvig Sophia of Sweden, Dowager Duchess and regent of Holstein-Gottorp, came to nothing.[4] In June 1705, under the false name "Monsieur de Busch", George visited the Ansbach court at its summer residence in Triesdorf to investigate incognito a marriage prospect: Caroline of Ansbach, the former ward of his aunt Queen Sophia Charlotte of Prussia. The English envoy to Hanover, Edmund Poley, reported that George was so taken by "the good character he had of her that he would not think of anybody else".[5] A marriage contract was concluded by the end of July.[6] On 22 August / 2 September 1705[lower-alpha 1] Caroline arrived in Hanover for her wedding, which was held the same evening in the chapel at Herrenhausen.[3]
George was keen to participate in the war against France in Flanders, but his father refused to let him join the army in an active role until he had a son and heir.[7] In early 1707 George's hopes were fulfilled when Caroline gave birth to a son, Frederick.[8] In July Caroline fell seriously ill with smallpox, and George caught the infection after staying by her side devotedly during her illness.[9] They both recovered. In 1708 George participated in the Battle of Oudenarde in the vanguard of the Hanoverian cavalry; his horse and a colonel immediately beside him were killed, but George survived unharmed.[10] The British commander, Marlborough, wrote that George "distinguished himself extremely, charging at the head of and animating by his example [the Hanoverian] troops, who played a good part in this happy victory".[11] Between 1709 and 1713 George and Caroline had three more children, all girls: Anne, Amelia, and Caroline.[12]
By 1714 Queen Anne's health had declined, and British Whigs, who supported the Hanoverian succession, thought it prudent for one of the Hanoverians to live in England to safeguard the Protestant succession on Anne's death. As George was a peer of the realm (as Duke of Cambridge), it was suggested that he be summoned to Parliament to sit in the House of Lords. Both Anne and George's father refused to support the plan, although George, Caroline, and Sophia were all in favour.[13] George did not go. Within the year both Sophia and Anne were dead, and George's father was king.[14]
Issue
John Croker's medal of 1732 showing the surviving children of George II and Caroline: Frederick, William, Anne, Amelia, Caroline, Mary, and Louisa
Caroline's ten[15] or eleven[16] pregnancies resulted in eight live births. One of their children died in infancy, and seven lived to adulthood.
- Frederick Lewis, Prince of Wales (1707-1751) - married 1736, Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha; had issue, including the future George III of the United Kingdom (1738-1820) who would succeed his grandfather as King of Great Britain.
- Anne of England (1709-1759) - married 1734, William IV, Prince of Orange; had issue
- Amelia of Great Britain (1711-1786) - never married, no issue
- Caroline of Great Britain (1713-1757) - never married, no issue
- George William of Great Britain (1717-1718) = died young
- William, Duke of Cumberland (1721-1765) - never married, no issue
- Mary of Great Britain (1723-1772) - married 1740, Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel; had issue
- Louisa of Great Britain (1724-1751) - married 1743, Frederick V, King of Denmark and Norway; had issue
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Johann Ludwig, Reichsgraf von Wallmoden-Gimborn (1736-1811) | 22 April 1736 Hanover, Germany | 10 October 1811 Hanover, Germany | Charlotte Christiane Auguste Wilhelmine von Wangenheim (1740-1783) Luise Christiane Baronin von Liechtenstein (1763-1809) |
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| George II of Great Britain (1683-1760) | 30 October 1683 Herrenhausen Gardens, Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany | 25 October 1760 Kensington Palace, London, England, United Kingdom | Wilhelmine Karoline of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1683-1737) Amalie Sophie Marianne von Wendt (1704-1765) |
| Sophie Dorothea von Hannover (1687-1757) | 1687 | 1757 Monbijou, Germany | Friedrich Wilhelm I. in Preußen (1688-1740) |
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Anna Luise Sophie von der Schulenburg, Countess of Dölitz (1692-1773) | |||
| Melusina von der Schulenburg, Countess of Walsingham (1693-1778) | |||
| Margarete Gertrud von Oeynhausen (1701-1726) | 1701 | 1726 | Albrecht Wolfgang von Schaumburg-Lippe (1699-1748) |
Europe in the years after the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748
See Also
Bibliography
- Ashley, Mike (1998) The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens. London: Robinson. ISBN 1-84119-096-9
- Best, Nicholas (1995) The Kings and Queens of England. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN 0-297-83487-8
- Black, Jeremy (2001) Walpole in Power. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-2523-X
- Black, Jeremy (2007) George II: Puppet of the Politicians? Exeter: University of Exeter Press. ISBN 978-0-85989-807-2
- Cannon, John (2004) "George II (1683–1760)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, retrieved 16 August 2011 doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/10539 (subscription or UK public library membership required)
- Dennison, Matthew (2017), The First Iron Lady, London: Harper Collins Publishers, ISBN 978-0-00-812199-0
- Haag, Eugène; Haag, Émile; Bordier, Henri Léonard (1877) (in French), La France Protestante, Paris: Sandoz et Fischbacher, https://archive.org/details/lafranceprotesta05haaguoft
- Huberty, Michel; Giraud, Alain; Magdelaine, F. et B. (1981) L'Allemagne Dynastique. Volume 3: Brunswick-Nassau-Schwarzbourg. Le Perreux-sur-Marne: Giraud. ISBN 2-901138-03-9
- Kilburn, Matthew (2004) "Wallmoden, Amalie Sophie Marianne von, suo jure countess of Yarmouth (1704–1765)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, retrieved 30 November 2012 doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/28579 (subscription or UK public library membership required)
- Pinches, John Harvey; Pinches, Rosemary (1974) The Royal Heraldry of England. Slough, Buckinghamshire: Hollen Street Press. ISBN 0-900455-25-X
- Thompson, Andrew C. (2011) George II: King and Elector. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-11892-6
- Trench, Charles Chevenix (1975) George II. London: Allen Lane. ISBN 0-7139-0481-X
- Van der Kiste, John (1997), George II and Queen Caroline, Stroud, Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing, ISBN 0-7509-1321-5
- Weir, Alison (1996) Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy. London: Random House. ISBN 0-7126-7448-9
External Links
- wikipedia:en:George II of Great Britain
- George II of Great Britain at thePeerage
- George II of Great Britain, Geni.com, https://www.geni.com/people/George-II-King-of-Great-Britain-and-Ireland/4555899, retrieved 01 May 2023
- George II of Great Britain at Find A Grave
- George II at the official website of the British monarchy
- George II at the official website of the Royal Collection Trust
- George II at BBC History
- Portraits of King George II at the National Portrait Gallery, London
Ancestry Trees
- Charlemagne Family Ancestry
- Rurik Family Ancestry
- Rollo Family Ancestry
- Alfred the Great Family Ancestry
- House of Hanover
- Plantagenet Family Line
- Capetian dynasty
Contemporary References
Some of the best contemporary references for George Augustus II of Hanover, include:
- The Letters of Horace Walpole: Horace Walpole was a prominent writer and politician who corresponded frequently with King George II and other members of the royal family. His letters provide a detailed and often candid look at the politics, culture, and personalities of the period.
- The Memoirs of John, Duke of Marlborough: John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, was a close advisor to King George II and served as a commander in several of the major wars of the period. His memoirs provide a valuable perspective on the military campaigns and political intrigue of the time.
- The Parliamentary Debates: The debates in the British Parliament during King George II's reign offer a wealth of information about the political and social issues of the period. They provide a window into the debates over issues such as taxation, foreign policy, and the role of the monarchy in government.
- The London Gazette: The official newspaper of the British government, the London Gazette, contains a wealth of information about the events of King George II's reign, including announcements of major events and decisions, official proclamations, and notices of appointments and promotions.
- The Gentleman's Magazine: This monthly magazine, which was first published in 1731, provides a fascinating glimpse into the cultural and social life of the period. It features articles on a wide range of topics, including literature, fashion, politics, and the arts.
Original Citations
Thomas Hearne
An eyewitness account of the coronation of King George II, as described by Thomas Hearne, an Oxford antiquary who attended the ceremony:
"On Wednesday, the 11th of October, 1727, the coronation of King George II took place in Westminster Abbey. The day was fine and clear, and the streets were lined with crowds of people who had come to witness the spectacle. At around ten o'clock in the morning, the King and Queen arrived at Westminster Abbey in a procession of coaches. The King was dressed in his coronation robes, which were made of purple velvet and embroidered with gold, and he wore a crown set with diamonds. The Queen was similarly attired in a gown of purple velvet, also embroidered with gold. The ceremony began with the King's entrance into the Abbey, where he was greeted by the Archbishop of Canterbury and other officials of the Church. The King then made his way to his throne, where he received the homage of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal. Next, the Archbishop anointed the King with holy oil, and he was then invested with the royal robes, the orb, and the scepter. The crown was then placed on his head, and the Archbishop pronounced the traditional words: "Be thou a faithful king over this people of Great Britain and Ireland; remember the high trust which God hath placed in thee, to maintain the laws of God, the true profession of the Gospel, and the Protestant reformed religion." At this point, the choir burst into a triumphant anthem, and the King and Queen were escorted out of the Abbey in a grand procession. The streets were lined with cheering crowds, and the sound of cannon fire echoed through the city. The coronation of King George II was a magnificent spectacle, and it served to reinforce the authority and majesty of the monarchy in the eyes of the people. As an eyewitness to the ceremony, I was struck by the grandeur and solemnity of the occasion, and I felt privileged to have been a part of such a historic event."
Royal Succession Charts
George II of Great Britain (1683-1760) Cadet branch of the House of Welf Born: 9 November 1683 Died: 25 October 1760
| ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George I |
King of Great Britain and Ireland, Elector of Hanover 11/22 June 1727 – 25 October 1760 |
Succeeded by George III |
British royalty
| ||
| Vacant Title last held by James
|
Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall Duke of Rothesay 1714–1727 |
Succeeded by Frederick |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by The Duke of Ormonde |
Chancellor of the University of Dublin 1715–1727 |
Succeeded by HRH Frederick, Prince of Wales |
Footnotes
- ^ Van der Kiste, p. 6.
- ^ Black, George II, pp. 35–36; Thompson, p. 19; Van der Kiste, p. 7.
- ^ a b Van der Kiste, p. 17.
- ^ Thompson, p. 28.
- ^ Van der Kiste, p. 15.
- ^ Thompson, p. 30; Van der Kiste, p. 16.
- ^ Thompson, p. 31; Van der Kiste, p. 18.
- ^ Van der Kiste, p. 19.
- ^ Van der Kiste, p. 21.
- ^ Thompson, p. 32; Trench, p. 18; Van der Kiste, p. 22.
- ^ Van der Kiste, p. 23.
- ^ Thompson, p. 37.
- ^ Van der Kiste, p. 30.
- ^ Thompson, p. 38.
- ^ Weir, pp. 277–285.
- ^ Dennison, p. 211.
Footnotes (including sources)
| ‡ General |
| ¢2 Children 2 |
|
Robin Patterson, Thurstan, Phlox, Rtol, MainTour, Bergsmit
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