Person    | Male  Born 4/6/1738  Died 29/1/1820

King George III

Born in St James's Square (not the public garden, one of the houses, obviously). Crowned in 1760, the first monarch since Queen Anne to be truly British. It was during his rule that many of the American colonies were lost in the American Revolutionary War. Later in life suffered from an intermittent mental illness which made him eventually too mad to rule and his eldest son ruled as Prince Regent, becoming George IV on his father's death, at Windsor. His consort was Queen Charlotte. In recent years the accepted diagnosis has been manic depression.

George III was a strong supporter of Eton College (his local school) and, in return, the school made the King's birthday a holiday and the 'Fourth of June' became a traditional day of festivities even though it is seldom celebrated on June 4.

Journal of the American Revolution describes the toppling of a Manhattan statue of George III in 1776. This had been erected only about 10 years previously but when the States declared their independence a group of New Yorkers celebrated by pulling it down.  A 2021 meme: "After hearing a reading of the newly adopted Declaration of Independence, New Yorkers "Destroy History" by toppling a statue of King George III. And that's why no one knows who won the American Revolution.”

Invested in and was governor of the South Sea company whose trade was slavery. During the campaign to end the slave trade George supported neither side, which, given his position, was helpful to those in favour of retention.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
King George III

Commemorated ati

Duke of York's column

Bronze statue by Westmacott of "The Grand Old Duke of York" of nursery rhyme ...

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General Roy's cannon - south

The cannon was installed in 1791 by Mudge. The plaque came later in 1926. Fr...

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George III at Trinity House

This building was erected during his reign.

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George III in Cockspur Street

Considered to be Wyatt's best work.

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George III with the River god

Bronze statue erected in 1789 showing the king who had commissioned the rebui...

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Show all 16

Other Subjects

Black Plaque Project

Black Plaque Project

An extension of the Nubian Jak Community Trust plaque scheme. It recognises black people / people of colour who were prominent in British history. The plaques are temporary, but it is planned to co...

Group, Race Issues

2 memorials
Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass

Social reformer, writer and statesman. Born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, probably in his grandmother's shack in Talbot County, Maryland. He escaped from slavery and became an agent of the ...

Person, Literature, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Caribbean Islands, USA

2 memorials
Battersea Rise House

Battersea Rise House

Built circa 1770. The house and the estate were bought by Henry Thornton in 1792. William Wilberforce, his good friend, lived here until Thornton's marriage. Both men were MPs and important members...

Building, Architecture, Race Issues

1 memorial
C. L. R. James

C. L. R. James

Trinidadian historian, journalist, socialist and political activist. A pioneering and influential voice in postcolonial literature. Born Cyril Lionel Robert James in Trinidad. An early athlete and ...

Person, Literature, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Sport / Games, Caribbean Islands

1 memorial
Anti-Slavery Society

Anti-Slavery Society

First founded in Britain in 1823 as the 'Society for the Mitigation and Gradual Abolition of Slavery Throughout the British Dominions'. When slavery was abolished in British dominions the Society w...

Group, Race Issues, Social Welfare

1 memorial

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Melanie Klein

Melanie Klein

Psychoanalyst and pioneer of child analysis.  Born with the surname Reizes in Vienna.  Her 1903 marriage to Arthur Klein led to the end of her education, 3 children, frequent home moves and divorce...

Person, Medicine, Austria

1 memorial
H. Munroe

H. Munroe

Hon. Treasurer of the Council of the Hornsey Central Hospital in 1924.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial