Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A British monarch: George III refers to the King of Great Britain and Ireland who reigned from 1760 to 1820. His reign is notably marked by the loss of the American colonies and his later descent into mental illness, which led to his son acting as regent.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • George III ascended to the throne in 1760.
  • The policies of George III contributed to the American Revolution.
  • During the later years of his reign, George III suffered from severe mental illness.

Advanced Usage

• "The madness of George III": A common historical reference to the king's well-documented mental health struggles, often used to discuss historical perspectives on illness and power.
  • The play "The Madness of George III" explores his illness and its political impact.

Variants and Related Words

• Georgian (adj): Pertaining to the reigns of the British kings named George, especially the period of George I through George IV.
  • Georgian architecture flourished during the reigns of the first four King Georges.

Synonyms

• The King: A general term, but when used in the specific historical context of 1760-1820, it can refer to George III.
• The monarch: Similarly, a general term for a sovereign ruler.

Related Phrases

• The Regency: The period from 1811 to 1820 when George III's son, the future George IV, ruled as Prince Regent due to the king's incapacity.
  • The Regency began when George III was declared unfit to rule.

Related Idioms

• : An informal, modern idiom suggesting a temporary lapse in memory or coherence, alluding to the king's illness.
  • I'm so tired I just had a complete King George III moment and forgot my own phone number.

Noun

1. King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 to 1820; the American colonies were lost during his reign; he became insane in 1811 and his son (later George IV) acted as regent until 1820 (1738-1820)