King George III, the longest-reigning British monarch (until recently surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II), was born on June 4th, 1738, at Norfolk House in London. Unlike his two Hanoverian predecessors, he was the first British king to be born in Britain itself and spoke English as his first language. This distinction, along with his genuine interest in British affairs, fostered a closer connection between the crown and the people than had previously existed.
George III’s reign, spanning six decades, was a period of immense change and upheaval. It witnessed Britain’s victory in the Seven Years’ War, the loss of the American colonies in the War of Independence, and the long struggle against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France. Throughout these challenges, George III remained a committed, if sometimes stubborn, figure, leaving a complex legacy that continues to be debated by historians.
