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.

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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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Other Subjects

Imperial College

Imperial College

Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine is an independent constituent part of the University of London. On 8 July 1907, King Edward VII granted a Royal Charter establishing the Imperi...

Group, Education, Race Issues

5 memorials
Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford

Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford

Statesman. Harley Street was named after him. Responsible for the creation of the South Sea company and was the first governor. This company later became a major player in the Atlantic slave trade.

Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues

1 memorial
Abolition of slavery

Abolition of slavery

The British abolition of slavery came in two parts: first the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act became law on 25 March 1807, which left slavery itself still permitted until the Slavery Abolition Act...

Event, Race Issues, Social Welfare, Africa, Australia, Bermuda, Caribbean Islands, Indian Sub-continent, Jamaica, Sri Lanka

11 memorials
Samuel Morley

Samuel Morley

Born Well Street Hackney into a Nottingham family of wool/hosiery manufacturers and merchants. His father John, had come to London to set up an outlet for their products. Samuel went into the famil...

Person, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Religion

3 memorials
Henry Thornton

Henry Thornton

Anti-slavery campaigner. Born Clapham. Successful banker. Good friends with his (indirect) cousin, William Wilberforce, prior to their marriages they shared a house bought by Thornton, Battersea Ri...

Person, Commerce, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Religion

1 memorial

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John H. Foley

John H. Foley

Born Dublin. Works include: Albert and the group Asia, both at the Albert Memorial, After Foley's death the statue of Albert was finished by his assistant Thomas Brock. Died at home, The Priory, Up...

Person, Sculpture, Ireland

4 memorials