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Thursday 26 March 2015

George II of Great Britain

George II was born on November 10, 1683 in the city of Hanover in Germany.

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

George as a young boy with his mother and his sister, Sophia Dorothea of Hanover

George spoke only French until he was four, then he learnt German and later English and Italian

When his father died in June 1727 during one of his visits to Hanover, George II succeeded him as English king and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire at the age of 43.

George II was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain.


George II and his wife Caroline of Ansbach were crowned King and Queen of Great Britain on October 11, 1727.

Like his father, George was particularly fond of the music of Handel. Zadok The Priest was one of four pieces the German composer wrote for George’s coronation.

George II had a number of mistresses. Two of his illegitimate children later became the Earl of Salisbury and the Archbishop of York.

George II was the last British monarch to command his troops in battle, at the Battle of Dettingen in June 1743.


George II thought his popularity might be increased by allowing his subjects to watch him eat in a public dining room at Hampton Court. Tickets could be brought allowing his subjects to be able to watch the king and his family eat Sunday dinner.

George II took such an interest in his food that he ordered every dish served to him to be labelled with the name of the chef who had made it.

George II died on October 25, 1760 alone sitting on his toilet after drinking hot chocolate. At 76-years-old, he had lived longer than any of his English royal predecessors.

Before George died he left explicit instructions for the sides of his and his wife’s coffins to be removed in order that their remains could mingle.

Sources Daily Express, Food For Thought

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