GEORGE II. (1683-1760). King of Great Britain and Ireland, Elector of Hanover, 1727-60. The son of the preceding, he was born at Herren hausen, Hanover, November 10 (new style) 1683. After his mother's divorce in 1694, he lived with his grandparents, who superintended his educa tion. On September 2, 1705, he married the Mar grave of Anspach's daughter, Carolina Wilhel mina. His code of morals was on a par. with his father's, but his wife gained considerable influ ence over him by condoning his infidelities; and her death, in 1737, which was considered a national loss, he genuinely deplored. In 1708 he joined Marlborough's army, and showed conspicu ous bravery at Oudenarde, where he narrowly escaped death. At his father's accession to the throne he was created Prince of Wales. Owing to his affection for his mother, he had never been on gcod terms with his father, who connived at a plot for his forcible disappearance. Their mutual repugnance increased when the King, during his visits to Hanover, was averse to appointing the Prince guardian of the realm. The Prince sup ported the opposition party, but at his father's death in 1727 was persuaded by the Queen to re tain Walpole in power. \Valpole's Administra tion was distinguished by the preservation of peace, and his unwillingness to declare war with Spain led to his resignation in 1742. He was suc ceeded by Carteret, who favored a war policy. Anxious for the safety of Hanover, the King made an alliance with Maria Theresa of Austria in the Silesian Wars, and at Dettingen, in 1743, commanded the victorious army in per son. The Young Pretender's rebellion in 1745 46 was suppressed at Culloden by the Duke of Cumberland, the King's second son. Eng
land joined Prussia in the Seven Years' War, which brought about the downfall of the colonial power of France. In 1757, by the victory of Plassey, Clive laid the foundations of the Indian Empire, and in 1759 NVolfe's victory on the heights above Quebec achieved the conquest of Canada. In 1749 the funds rose above par, and Pelham effected an appreciable reduction of the national debt by reducing the interest from 4 to 3 per cent. George II., although a mediocrity, and possessed of an obstinate tem per, was always sagacious enough to perceive the superior wisdom and prudence in the counsels offered by his ministers, and acceded to their ad vice, to the material benefit and industrial prog ress of the country. At the end of his reign Pitt conducted the affairs of the nation. George II. died suddenly from rupture of the heart, Oc tober 25, 1760, at Kensington. Consult: Her vey, Afemoirs of the Reign of George II. (Lon don, 1854) ; Walpole, Memoirs of the Last Ten Years of the Reign of George II. (London, 1822. 1846) ; Schmucker, History of the Four Georges (New York, 1866') 2 • Thackeray, Four Georges (London, 1861) ; McCarthy, History of the Four Georges and William IV. (London, ; Jesse, Memoirs of the Court of England from the Revolution of MSS to the Death of George II. (London, 1843) ; Coxe, Memoirs of the Life and Administration of Sir Robert Walpole (London, 1798) ; id., Memoirs of Horatio, Lord Walpole (London, 1802).