How King George III became insane
King George III, the long-reigning British monarch who sat on the throne for nearly 60 years, is often remembered for two significant events: losing the American colonies and his descent into madness.
While his achievements as a wise, fair, and popular ruler who supported the arts and sciences are often overshadowed by his illness, it is crucial to understand the complexity of his condition and the impact it had on both his personal life and the nation he governed.
2. The First Signs of Illness (1765)
The initial indications of King George III’s illness emerged in 1765 when the 27-year-old monarch had been on the throne for just five years.
He experienced a range of symptoms, including fever, a persistent cough, sudden weight loss, and insomnia.
Along with these physical ailments, the King exhibited cognitive impairment, which caused concern among his courtiers and the King himself.
The situation was so worrisome that Parliament passed the Regency Act, which would install a regency if the King were to be incapacitated again.
However, George III quickly recovered, and the act was repealed.
3. The Severe Relapse (1788)
In 1788, King George III suffered a far more severe relapse that marked the beginning of his struggle with mental illness.
The once amiable and polite monarch transformed into an irrational and erratic individual, displaying violent mania and bizarre behavior.
He experienced hallucinations, made inappropriate advances towards women, and even attempted several sexual assaults.
The King’s condition deteriorated to the point where he would engage in nonstop gibberish for hours and suffer from violent fits, requiring servants to restrain him to prevent self-harm.
As Robert Greville, the King’s equerry, noted in his journal, George III spent Christmas Day 1788 in a state of delusion:
“He had at this time his part of the bedclothes under his bed – had taken off his nightcap, and got a pillowcase round his head, and the pillow was in the bed with him which he called Prince Octavius, who he said was to be new born this day.”
4. Treatment at Kew Palace
In an attempt to manage the King’s illness, he was moved from Windsor to the Dutch House in the grounds of Kew Palace in London.
There, his physicians tried various methods to cure him, including the application of arsenic-laden powders to his skin, causing burning and blistering.
They also subjected him to starvation, plunging him into freezing cold water, and administering emetics to induce vomiting and purgatives to cause diarrhea.
Despite these painful and humiliating treatments, the King’s condition did not improve.
Desperate for a solution, Queen Charlotte turned to Francis Willis, a clergyman and physician renowned for his success in treating the mentally ill. Willis employed a strict “Moral Method” to control the King’s behavior through a system of punishment and reward.
When George III became agitated or violent, Willis would have him restrained in a straitjacket and gagged until he calmed down.
In contrast, when the King behaved appropriately, he was rewarded with visits from family members or the use of cutlery during meals.
5. Theories on the Cause of the King’s Madness
Throughout history, various theories have been proposed to explain the cause of King George III’s illness.
During the 18th century, it was believed that the King suffered from an imbalance of the four humours—blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile—which was thought to be the root of all ailments.
In the 1960s, psychiatrists Ida Macalpine and Richard Hunter suggested that the King’s symptoms were consistent with porphyria, a rare genetic disorder affecting the body’s ability to produce heme, a crucial component of hemoglobin.
This theory gained significant traction, especially after a 2005 hair analysis revealed high levels of arsenic in the King’s hair, which could have triggered the onset of porphyria.
However, recent research by scholars at St George’s, University of London, has challenged the porphyria theory, proposing instead that King George III likely suffered from bipolar disorder.
By analyzing the King’s handwritten letters, they discovered that during his manic episodes, his sentences were much longer, more complex, and repetitive—features consistent with the manic phase of bipolar disorder.
Additionally, the researchers argued that the King’s discolored urine, previously attributed to porphyria, might have been caused by a medication called gentian violet.
6. Subsequent Relapses and Decline (1801-1810)
King George III experienced further relapses in 1801 and 1804, during which he was again confined to the Dutch House for treatment.
With each episode, it became increasingly clear that the King’s mental and physical health was deteriorating.
His final and most severe bout of illness occurred in 1810, following the death of his youngest and favorite daughter, Princess Amelia.
The King’s condition was so grave that he was declared permanently insane, spending the last decade of his life in seclusion at Windsor Castle.
Blind due to cataracts and possibly deaf, George III would wander the castle corridors, engaging in imaginary conversations with his deceased children and weeping for hours.
When his beloved wife, Queen Charlotte, passed away in 1818, the King was so far gone that he did not recognize her or mourn her death.
7. The Legacy of a Popular King
Despite the focus on his mental illness, King George III was a highly respected and beloved monarch during his reign.
He was the first Hanoverian king to be born in England and speak English as his first language, which endeared him to his subjects.
Known for his interest in agriculture and fondly nicknamed “Farmer George,” the King was a dedicated and diligent ruler who supported the arts and sciences, making him one of the most enlightened monarchs in Europe.
It is a tragic consequence of the era in which he lived that King George III’s illness could not be effectively treated with the medical knowledge and compassionate care available today.
Instead, he endured painful, humiliating, and ultimately ineffective treatments at the hands of his physicians.
8. The Impact of the King’s Illness on the Nation
Each time King George III withdrew from public life to cope with his illness, it triggered a constitutional crisis.
The question of who would make decisions in his absence became a contentious issue, with his eldest son, the Prince of Wales (the future King George IV), vying to be appointed as Regent.
However, the government was determined to prevent this, as the Prince was known to be aligned with the political opposition.
Remarkably, despite the political turmoil caused by the King’s absence, the crises were resolved relatively easily.
This was partly due to the King’s eventual recovery and partly because, by this point in British history, the monarchy’s power had diminished, with Parliament holding significant sway over the crown.
Ironically, the King’s illness ultimately served to highlight his importance as a stabilizing force in the nation’s political landscape.
When he was absent, politicians realized how much they relied on his calming influence to temper their squabbles.
9. Conclusion
The story of King George III’s tragic descent into madness is a complex tapestry woven from threads of physical and mental illness, the limitations of 18th-century medical knowledge, and the political landscape of the time.
While his illness undoubtedly had a profound impact on his personal life and the lives of his family members, it also served to underscore the King’s crucial role in maintaining stability within the nation.
As we look back on the life of King George III, it is essential to remember him not merely as the “mad king who lost America,” but as a dedicated, enlightened, and beloved monarch who faced the immense challenge of mental illness with courage and resilience.
By examining his story with compassion and understanding, we can gain valuable insights into the complexities of mental health and the enduring human spirit in the face of adversity.
How King George VI died of lung cancer at just 56: A Reluctant Monarch’s Final Days
King George VI passed away unexpectedly on February 6, 1952, following a reign marked by challenges and uncertainties.
His tenure on the throne began after his brother chose abdication in December 1936, leading to George becoming king out of a sense of duty rather than desire.
Initially, an official announcement attributed his death to coronary thrombosis; however, it’s well-known that the king battled long-standing health issues linked to heavy smoking, including lung cancer.
The somber statement released later disclosed that he was discovered lifeless in his bed at Sandringham House, Norfolk, stating, “The King was found dead in bed… A blood clot had stilled George VI’s valiant heart as he slept.”
Rumors suggest that George took up smoking as a teenager at around 16 years old, which led to a debilitating habit of consuming several packets of cigarettes daily for the next forty years.
This habit contributed significantly to his declining health, with noticeable deterioration occurring by 1948.
With persistent leg pain and a diagnosis of arteriosclerosis, he faced possible gangrene that could necessitate amputation of his leg.
In March of 1949, he underwent surgery, hoping to alleviate his ailments.
However, in May 1951, a troubling shadow was identified on his lung, leading to further examinations.
By September of that year, it was confirmed that a malignant tumor had developed.
A bulletin posted at Buckingham Palace characterized his postoperative recovery as “satisfactory,” despite the grim news about his lung condition.
Remarkably, the king was kept in the dark about the diagnosis, but he underwent surgery to remove his left lung in an effort to extend his life.
Following the operation, he appeared to improve, with many believing he had triumphed over his health battles.
Yet, fate had other plans, and he ultimately succumbed to his afflictions.
As death drew near, Prime Minister Winston Churchill reflected on the king’s remarkable composure.
He remarked in the House of Commons that “the King walked with death, as if death were a companion, an acquaintance whom he recognized and did not fear.”
This poignant observation speaks volumes about George VI’s character.
On the day of his passing, his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, was thousands of miles away in Kenya when she received the heartbreaking news.
It was her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who gently delivered the devastating message to her, leading her into the garden for a private moment together as they walked in silence on the lawn.
In the wake of his death, the world mourned a king who had led with resilience despite his personal struggles with anxiety and health.
How it happened: the timeline
George VI had undergone lung surgery in September 1951, from which he never fully recovered.
On the evening of 5 February 1952, he had dinner with his family at Sandringham House in Norfolk and went to bed at 10:30 pm.
He died in his sleep early the next morning at the age of 56.
His valet found him at 7:30 am, and the news was relayed to Buckingham Palace by telephone using the code phrase “Hyde Park Corner” to keep it from switchboard operators.
The public announcement was delayed until 11:15 am, when BBC newsreader John Snagge began broadcasting with the words, “It is with the greatest sorrow that we make the following announcement…”
The bulletin was repeated every fifteen minutes seven times, after which the broadcast went silent for five hours.
Tributes included the tolling of the Great Tom bell at St Paul’s Cathedral every minute for two hours, as well as bells at Westminster Abbey.
At Windsor Castle, the Sebastopol Bell—a Crimean War trophy rung only upon the death of a monarch—was tolled 56 times, once for each year of the King’s life.
Royal funerals are organized by the Earl Marshal, a hereditary office then held by Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk.
His offices at St James’s Palace in London were being renovated at the time of the King’s death but were hurriedly restored and ready by 5:00 pm that day.
The House of Commons met at 11:58 am to express condolences before adjourning, pending the Accession Council’s formal recognition of the new monarch.
The council convened at 5:00 pm in the Entrée Room of St James’s Palace and confirmed Elizabeth II as George VI’s successor.
An official proclamation was read from the Proclamation Gallery at the palace, preceded by trumpets from the Life Guards and filmed by four television cameras.
High Sheriffs later read the proclamation at town and city halls across the country.
Thousands gathered in Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh for these ceremonies.
A period of national mourning followed. Rugby and hockey matches were postponed, but football games went ahead, beginning with the national anthem and the hymn “Abide with Me.”
Memorial services were held in churches throughout the UK and abroad, including in communist countries.
Public reaction was mixed: while many mourned, some expressed frustration.
Mass-Observation recorded a woman complaining about the gloom’s effect on the elderly and ill, and a fight broke out in a Notting Hill bar after a man made a blunt remark about the King’s mortality.
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