George II of Great Britain

NAME George II (George Augustus)

WHAT FAMOUS FOR George II was the second Hanoverian King of Great Britain and Ireland and the last British monarch to personally lead troops in battle. He is also remembered for his patronage of Handel, his tempestuous family life, and his eccentric habits as king.

BIRTH George II was born on November 10, 1683 (ctober 30, 1683, Old Style) at either Herrenhausen Palace or Leine Palace in Hanover, Germany. The discrepancy in dates reflects Britain's switch from the Julian to Gregorian calendar during his reign in 1752.

FAMILY BACKGROUND  George was the only son of George Louis, Hereditary Prince of Brunswick-Lüneburg (later King George I of Great Britain), and Sophia Dorothea of Celle. 

His family background was marked by scandal and political complexity. His parents both committed adultery, leading to the dissolution of their marriage in 1694 when George was eleven years old. His mother was subsequently confined to Ahlden House for the rest of her life and was denied access to her children. 

George's paternal grandmother, Sophia of Hanover, was designated as heir to the British throne through the Act of Settlement 1701.

CHILDHOOD George's childhood was profoundly affected by his parents' acrimonious relationship and his mother's imprisonment. He never saw his mother again after the age of eleven, which contributed to a lasting estrangement from his father. Due to his father's frequent absences on military campaigns, George developed a close relationship with his grandparents. He had one sister, Sophia Dorothea, who was three years younger.

George as a young boy with his mother and sister by Jacques Vaillant

EDUCATION George received a comprehensive education befitting a future monarch. Initially under the care of Al Von harling, who had also tutored his father, George later studied under Johann Hillman Holston from age four. He learned French first as the language of diplomacy and court, followed by German, English, and Italian. His education included genealogy, heraldry, military history, and battle tactics, subjects he studied with particular diligence. He was said to be an anxious and impatient student, which some believe contributed to developing the temper he was known for as an adult. (1)

CAREER RECORD He ascended to the throne of Great Britain and Ireland on June 11, 1727, following his father's death. His long reign lasted 33 years, and he presided over a period of major political and military developments, including the War of the Austrian Succession and the expansion of British influence overseas.

APPEARANCE There is a common belief that King George II was relatively short, sometimes cited as standing about 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m) tall. However, authoritative historical records and compiled listings of the physical sizes of British monarchs do not confirm this specific height for George II. 

He had a somewhat ruddy complexion, prominent eyes, and a rather stiff, formal demeanor. Portraits often depict him in military attire or ceremonial robes.

Portrait by Godfrey Kneller, 1716

FASHION  As was customary for monarchs of his time, George II dressed in elaborate and formal attire. This would have included richly embroidered coats, waistcoats, breeches, silk stockings, and powdered wigs. Military uniforms would also have been a common sight in his wardrobe. He wore grey patterned suits and breeches on more casual occasions.

CHARACTER George II was a man of contradictions, blending energy and intellect with political timidity. 

Unlike his reserved father, he was lively and talkative, with a remarkable memory for details—genealogies, treaties, regimental insignia, and the intricacies of European courts. 

He showed personal courage on the battlefield, yet often shrank from political confrontation, relying heavily on his ministers to manage affairs of state. 

His temper was famously hot, yet he was also known for his sincerity and fundamentally kind nature. As Lord Charlemont observed, "his temper was warm and impetuous, but he was good-natured and sincere. Unskilled in the royal talent of dissimulation, he always was what he appeared to be."

SPEAKING VOICE George II was notably talkative, in stark contrast to his more reserved father. He was multilingual, speaking French, German, English, and Italian, though he spoke English with a strong German accent, which was often a source of amusement or disdain for his English subjects.

His verbal skills served him well in diplomatic and court settings, though he was known to be quite direct in his communications.

SENSE OF HUMOUR King George's sense of humour was not particularly noted. He was generally perceived as serious and somewhat gruff.

His reign saw significant developments in British satirical humor, with the king himself becoming a subject of satirical prints and cartoons. 

RELATIONSHIPS On August 22, 1705, George married Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach in Hanover—a union that proved to be a genuine love match. Shrewd, fair, buxom, and politically astute, Caroline quickly became one of the most remarkable women of her age. She was intelligent, charismatic, and skilled in court diplomacy, often guiding George through complex political terrain and tempering both his volatile impulses and wandering affections.

Though George was not entirely faithful—he fathered an illegitimate son, Johann Ludwig, Graf von Wallmoden-Gimborn, in 1736—he remained emotionally devoted to Caroline. After returning from travels abroad, he would always rush tenderly into her arms. Within their marriage, Caroline was the dominant partner, exercising considerable influence over the king, the court, and even political decisions.

The couple had eight children, including Frederick, Prince of Wales, born in 1707, and Anne, Princess Royal, among others. 

Caroline died on November 20, 1737, and George was devastated. When she reportedly asked him on her deathbed to remarry, he replied in French, “Non, j’aurai des maîtresses!” ("No, I will have mistresses!"). Despite their flaws, theirs was one of the more affectionate and intellectually balanced royal marriages of the Hanoverian dynasty.

Princess Caroline by Godfrey Kneller, 1716

George had a terrible relationship with his father, George I, leading to public quarrels and even temporary banishment from royal palaces. This pattern repeated with his own eldest son, Frederick, Prince of Wales, with whom relations became so bad by 1737 that Frederick and his family were banished from the Royal Court. Caroline famously referred to Frederick on her deathbed as "that monster," adding, "At least I shall have one comfort… I shall never see that monster again."

George II also maintained a long-term relationship with his mistress, Amalie von Wallmoden, Countess of Yarmouth, from 1735 until his death in 1760. He had met her during a visit to Hanover in 1735. After Queen Caroline's death in 1737, George brought Amalie to England, where she was naturalized and granted the title Countess of Yarmouth in 1740.

MONEY AND FAME Upon his accession to the throne, George II secured a generous Civil List settlement of £800,000 per year from Parliament, considerably more than previous monarchs had received. This financial arrangement was negotiated by Sir Robert Walpole and helped cement the minister's position. George's wealth and status were further enhanced by his dual role as both King of Great Britain and Elector of Hanover.

FOOD AND DRINK King George II's table reflected the extravagant tastes of 18th-century royalty, featuring exotic and elaborate dishes. Surviving royal menu books show the king enjoyed a wide variety of foods, such as frogs, puffins, and songbirds, and the regular enjoyment of rare delicacies was a status symbol among nobles at the time. Food historian Ivan Day notes that meticulous records were kept of royal meals, partly as a point of pride and demonstration of wealth.

George II was particularly fond of Rhenish soup, and there are accounts of his pleasure when this dish was prepared well. His daily routine included drinking hot chocolate in the morning, a habit he maintained until the day of his death. Historical records suggest he enjoyed hearty but not extravagant meals typical of the Georgian period. (1)

MUSIC AND ARTS George II was a significant patron of the arts, particularly music. He continued his father's support of composer George Frideric Handel, who wrote four new anthems for George's coronation in 1727, including the famous "Zadok the Priest," which has been performed at every British coronation since. 

George's reign was threatened in 1745 when Charles Edward Stuart, the Young Pretender, landed in Scotland. The Jacobite's initial success led to the national anthem in its current form becoming popular among the Hanoverian loyalists.                     

In 1753, the king provided financial support for the foundation of the British Museum and donated the 'Old Royal Library,' a collection of over 10,000 books, to enhance the museum's holdings.

LITERATURE While he received an education in various subjects, George II was not particularly known for his literary interests or intellectual pursuits outside of matters of state and war.

George was not fond of poetry, but Queen Caroline was, and the kingdom's prestige was enhanced through welcoming a distinguished exile, Voltaire.

NATURE He had little documented interest in nature and did not pursue gardening or natural history as hobbies.

PETS The royal family's tradition of keeping dogs was well-established by this period.

Alexander Pope had engraved on the silver collar of a dog he gave to Frederick, Prince of Wales (son of King George II), “I am his Highness’ dog at Kew. Pray tell me sir, whose dog are you?” 

HOBBIES AND SPORTS George II's primary interests centered around military affairs and warfare. He had a passionate interest in genealogies, dates, treaties, and regimental symbols, reflecting both his education and his role as a military leader. His enthusiasm for military matters was demonstrated through his active participation in battles and his hands-on approach to military leadership. (2) 

SCIENCE AND MATHS George II showed minimal interest in science, though his reign saw scientific advancements by others, including the work of astronomers like James Bradley.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY A committed Protestant, George II upheld the Anglican Church but was not deeply engaged in theology or philosophical debates.

REIGN George II became King of Great Britain and Ireland in June of 1727, which is to say he inherited one of the world’s most powerful thrones while also continuing to run a smallish German principality, Hanover—essentially the royal equivalent of trying to manage Microsoft while moonlighting as mayor of a quaint medieval town. As Elector of Hanover, George was never shy about letting British politicians know that, yes, he did have other priorities, and, no, they didn’t always involve Britain. This could be vexing, especially to the British.

Portrait of George II by Thomas Hudson

Still, he reigned for 33 years—the longest stretch since Queen Elizabeth I—and, in that time, Britain transitioned from a monarchy that ruled to one that reigned politely while letting others do the real work. In a curious twist of history, George helped oversee a shift toward modern parliamentary democracy mostly by trying not to.

You could say George II was present at the creation of the modern British government—though not necessarily paying full attention. During his reign, cabinet government took hold, spearheaded by Sir Robert Walpole, who famously held things together by knowing precisely when to flatter the king and when to ignore him.

The idea of a Prime Minister emerged—not officially, of course, but in practice—along with the revolutionary notion that ministers ought to have the support of Parliament, not just the royal nod. George found all this a little irritating but mostly allowed it, so long as he could still have a say in foreign policy and complain about his son.

As Elector of Hanover, George’s heart remained thoroughly continental. He was particularly keen on keeping his native patch of Germany out of the hands of the French, the Austrians, or anyone else with a mustache and a grudge.  In 1743, at the ripe age of 60, he led British troops at the Battle of Dettingen, making him the last British monarch to command in battle. It was an impressive feat, if only because most modern kings would rather lead a garden party than a cavalry charge.

Then came the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, when Bonnie Prince Charlie attempted to restore the House of Stuart with a ragtag army of Highlanders and dreamers. It all ended badly for Charlie at Culloden, but very well for George, who stayed firmly on the throne, grateful that other people had done the dirty work.

By the end of George’s reign, the Seven Years’ War was rumbling across the globe. Though he didn’t live to see its end, the early British victories in North America and India under his watch would become the cornerstones of an empire so vast even the sun gave up trying to set on it.

George II himself was not what you’d call an Enlightenment thinker. He wasn’t inventing new mathematical theorems or debating Voltaire. But he was sensible enough not to stand in the way of people who were. His reign saw a flowering of science, literature, and public discourse, not to mention the founding of the British Museum in 1753, thanks to a donation of the royal library and a sense that knowledge was probably a good thing to display in glass cases.

He loved music, particularly that of Handel, whose "Zadok the Priest" was written for George’s coronation and is still belted out at every coronation since, mostly because it's loud, regal, and impossible to forget.

Meanwhile, newspapers flourished, satirists sharpened their pens, and the public grew bold enough to poke fun at the monarchy itself—something no previous king would have tolerated, but which George mostly ignored (possibly because he couldn’t read English satire very well). 

George II’s reign saw the decline of royal prerogative and the firm entrenchment of constitutional monarchy. Ministers came and went, Parliament grew bolder, and kings were increasingly expected to smile, wave, and not interfere too much. George occasionally grumbled and tried to meddle—especially in military affairs—but found himself consistently outmaneuvered by his own government.

He upheld the Act of Settlement, which ensured that no Catholic would ever wear the crown again—a Protestant principle he took quite seriously, though it must be said the main benefit of this was making sure the Stuarts never came back.

George II was many things—energetic, irascible, petty, proud, loyal. He hated his son, loved his wife (Caroline of Ansbach, a formidable woman who essentially ran things until her death), and reportedly wept when she died, refusing to remarry because, as he said, “Non, j’aurai des maîtresses!” (“No, I’ll have mistresses!”), which was oddly sweet and unromantic all at once.

He wasn't charismatic, but he was dependable. He kept the ship of state steady through wars, rebellions, and awkward dinners, and in the process helped Britain stumble—quite successfully—into becoming a modern global power. 

POLITICS George II's political role evolved significantly during his 33-year reign. Initially, he wanted to dismiss Sir Robert Walpole upon becoming king, but was persuaded by Queen Caroline to retain him. This decision proved crucial in establishing the constitutional principle that ministers must have parliamentary support. George struggled against the limitations placed on royal power that his father had accepted, but ultimately had to acknowledge that government must be exercised by ministers with parliamentary backing.

The king exercised more influence in foreign policy and military appointments than in domestic affairs. His reign saw the development of cabinet government, with ministers meeting separately from the king, an important step toward the modern British parliamentary system. Major political crises in 1742, 1746, and 1757 demonstrated that the monarch could not keep ministers in office who had lost the confidence of the House of Commons.

SCANDAL George II's life was marked by several scandals, beginning with his mother's adultery and subsequent imprisonment. His own extramarital affair with Amalie von Wallmoden caused political controversy, as his frequent absences from London to visit her in Hanover led to criticism that he was prioritizing his German interests over British ones. Samuel Johnson satirically criticized the king's relationship in his 1738 poem "London" and continued his disapproval in 1739.

MILITARY RECORD George II distinguished himself as a military leader throughout his life. In 1708, he participated in the Battle of Oudenarde in Belgium under the Duke of Marlborough, where he made a lasting impression with his valor. His most famous military achievement came on June 27, 1743 at the Battle of Dettingen during the War of the Austrian Succession, where he personally led British and Hanoverian troops against the French. At age 60, he became the last British monarch to lead troops into battle, turning what seemed like certain defeat into victory when French cavalry charged prematurely.

George II at Dettingen, a 1902 painting by Robert Alexander Hillingford

During the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, George's reign was threatened when Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) landed in Scotland. The rebellion was ultimately defeated at the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. George's military leadership continued during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), which saw British victories in North America, India, and the Caribbean under leaders like William Pitt.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS George II enjoyed relatively good health for most of his long life, living to nearly 77 years old, longer than any of his English or British predecessors. However, by October 1760, he was blind in one eye and hard of hearing. Despite these limitations, he maintained his daily routines until the end of his life.

HOMES George II divided his time between multiple residences. His primary British residences included St. James Palace in London and Kensington Palace, where he died. As Elector of Hanover, he also maintained residences in Germany and spent twelve summers there during his reign. His regular travels between Britain and Hanover sometimes caused political tensions, with critics viewing these absences as evidence of divided loyalties.

TRAVEL George II was an extensive traveler, making regular journeys between Britain and his German territories. These travels served both political and personal purposes, maintaining his role as Elector of Hanover while also allowing him to visit his mistress Amalie von Wallmoden. His absences from Britain sometimes lasted several months and occasionally provoked satirical criticism from his subjects.

DEATH  King George II died on 25 October 1760 at Kensington Palace. According to detailed contemporary accounts, he rose at 6:00 AM as usual, drank his morning cup of hot chocolate, and went to his close stool (toilet) alone. After a few minutes, his valet heard a loud crash and found the king on the floor. A post-mortem examination revealed that George had died from a thoracic aortic dissection. 

He was succeeded by his grandson George III, as his son Frederick had died in 1751.  

George II was buried on November 11, 1760 in Westminster Abbey, with specific instructions that the sides of his and his wife's coffins be removed so their remains could mingle. (1)

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA George II has been the subject of numerous artistic representations throughout history. Contemporary portraits by artists such as Charles Jervas and Thomas Hudson captured his likeness for posterity. 

He also became a frequent target of satirical prints and cartoons, particularly those by James Gillray and other 18th-century caricaturists who mocked royal figures. 

Modern media has continued to feature George II in historical documentaries and educational content, including YouTube documentaries about his life and reign.

ACHIEVEMENTS Last British monarch to lead troops in battle

Patron of Handel and the arts

Reigned over a period of relative stability and expansion of British influence

Strengthened constitutional monarchy by avoiding overreach

Lived longer than any English royal before him

Sources (1) EBSCO (2) World History Encyclopedia