A GUIDE TO COLLECTING MAPS

OF THE BRITISH ISLES

King George II was born on October 30, 1683, in Hanover, Germany. He became king of Great Britain and Ireland on June 11, 1727, following the death of his father, King George I. He was the last British monarch born outside the United Kingdom.

His reign was marked by several military conflicts, including the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. George II was known for his disagreements with his ministers, but he eventually developed a successful working relationship with his Prime Minister, Robert Walpole, who was a key figure in his early reign. George II was also known for his patronage of the arts, particularly music. He was a great supporter of George Frideric Handel, whose music, including the famous "Messiah," flourished during George II's reign.

On October 25, 1760, George II died suddenly at Kensington Palace, London. He was succeeded by his grandson, George III, as his son, Frederick, Prince of Wales, had predeceased him.

King George III was born on June 4, 1738, in London, England. He became king in 1760, succeeding his grandfather, King George II. His reign was marked by a series of military conflicts, notably the Seven Years' War, the American Revolutionary War, and the Napoleonic Wars.

George III is perhaps best known for the loss of the American colonies. The American Revolutionary War began in 1775, and in 1776, the colonies declared their independence, forming the United States of America. Despite this loss, George III remained a popular figure in Britain.

In the later years of his reign, George III suffered from recurrent, and eventually permanent, mental illness. This condition, possibly porphyria, led to a regency being established, and his eldest son, George, Prince of Wales, ruled as Prince Regent from 1811.

George III's reign was the third longest in British history, lasting 59 years and 96 days. He passed away on January 29, 1820, and was succeeded by his son, who became King George IV.