George II

George II was the king of Great Britain and Ireland, and elector of Hanover.

History

As prince of Wales, George was a patron of the opposition against his father's government. The Whigs were dominant, though a Whig Split had emerged in 1717. The Whig opposition was largely Whig, but also in part the disorganized Tories, as the found common ground in objecting to the Hanoverian priorities in foreign policy. George's London residence, Leicester House, became synonymous with these oppositional politics.

George I died in 1727, leaving George II to succeed.

Reign

George inherited the Walpole government, with Walpole personally holding significant power.

Geopolitically, George and the Walpole government were preoccupied by France. Hanover was particularly vulnerable to French incursion.

The opposition incited the Walpole government to starting the War of Jenkin's Ear. However, between the failed attack on Cartagena in 1741 and the outbreak of the War of Austrian Succession, the American theater was essentially conceded.

George sided with Maria Theresa, favoring a counter to French power. He personally led an English-Austrian army at the Battle of Dettingen. The French countered by funding a new Jacobite rebellion and landing Charles Edward Stuart at Scotland in 1745, while George was still abroad. This rebellion was put down by William at the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. The war ended in 1748 with all war goals met.

Continuing to anticipate a French invasion of Hanover, George realigned Britain diplomatically with his nephew, Frederick the Great. Austria and France entered into a new alliance.

In 1754, border skirmishes in the Ohio territory escalated into the French and Indian War. Frederick invaded Austria to seize Saxony and Bohemia, and Hanover stood between French armies and the emerging war front. England was not prepared for the Seven Years' War, and suffered a devastating loss in Menorca. There were calls to execute members of the government, up to and including Pelham-Holles. A court marshal against MP and Admiral John Byng was offered up as a scapegoat. Fox and Pelham-Holles both resigned in late 1756 while Byng was executed in early 1757.

William was granted permission to negotiate a separate peace for Hanover in 1757, but the Convention of Klosterzeven was a complete concession to French demands. George revoked his permission for a separate treaty, disgraced William, and pulled Hanover back into the war.

George died in 1760, leaving his grandson George III to succeed and finish out the Seven Years' War.

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