2. George III and the Crisis of Revolution Politics, Personality, & Philosophy, 1760-1801

3. George III (1738-1820) Reared essentially fatherless (d. 1751) at Leicester House John Stuart, Earl of Bute, was his Scottish Tutor and mentor Rumors (unsubstantiated) made Bute the lover of Princess Augusta, George’s mother George believed in concept of King in Parliament, a concept eroded by events and practice since the Glorious Revolution (easily miscast as a desire to be a tyrant

4. George and Continual Cabinet Crisis Pitt wanted to continue 7 years war; opposed by Bute and Newcastle; Pitt out (1761) Bute as Chief Minister; disliked because he was a Scot; couldn’t control Commons; Bute out (1763) Grenville in; competent but unlikable; Grenville out (1765) Rockingham forms a caretaker government; R. out (1766) Pitt/Grafton in 1766, but Pitt goes mad; Grafton hangs on until 1769; Pitt back temporarily but in poor health and sits in Lords as Earl of Chatham Frederick North (1770-1782) headed G III’s first stable government.

5. Bute, Grenville, and North

6. Internal Issues John Wilkes—Prosecuted for Seditious Libel after North Briton #45; fled to France and was elected to Parliament; denied his seat; became Lord Mayor of London; symbol of honest Englishman struggling against corruption Edmund Burk, publicly, and Junius, through pamphlets nurture image of GIII as captive of evil advisors, bent on destroying liberty.

7. John Wilkes (1725-1797)

8. War of the American Revolution War became biggest England had fought to that time English forces succeeded when they were close to the sea, but failed once they were inland Politicians quit on George III, who essentially ran the war from 1778 onward Internal problems, such as the Irish Rebellion and the London Gordon Riots make prosecuting war difficult

9. Making Peace After North quit, King struggled to find a cabinet members to negotiate with Americans Eventually Charles James Fox and Frederick North form a coalition that gets treaty through commons. Brought down by Warren Hastings trial. King turns to William Pitt, Younger, and backs him against opposition. Pitt by 1784 is in charge and remains so until 1801

10. The Younger Pitt (1759-1806)

11. Pitt’s Administration George III’s mental health was not good, especially after 1788 Yet GIII’s backing of Pitt’s supporters in the 1784 election brought stability to government (G. III was better politician than his critics) Pitt made national government more efficient French Revolution erupted in 1789

12. George III

13. England and Fr. Rev. I Differing responses: France destroyed— Yeah!; then opinion divides: Burke v. Paine Until 1793, Pitt kept England at peace War of First Coalition (1793-97): French win and England isolated Income tax introduced and revenue and excise taxes increased to pay for cost of war

14. England and Fr. Rev. II Poor law modified: Speenhamland System Repressive measures to deal with dissent: Habeas corpus suspended 1794-1801; Treasonable Practices Act 1795 Charles James Fox spoke out against repression Naval war was more successful: Abukir Bay

15. England and Fr. Rev. III War of Second Coalition (1799-1801); again allies fail to crush France Irish crisis—French tried to land army in Ireland. Pitt proposes act of Union with Ireland—28 Irish Peers and 100 members of Commons; also Catholic Emancipation GIII didn’t support Catholic Emancipation and Pitt had to resign. Peace of Amiens (1802) brought peace, but England had to restore lands captured from France.

16. Horatio Nelson (1758-1805)