By the death of George II his grandson,[1] George III, now came to the
throne. The new King was a man of excellent character, who prided
himself on having been born an Englishman. He had the best interests
of his country at heart, but he lacked many of the qualities necessary
to be a great ruler. He was thoroughly conscientious, but he was
narrow and stubborn to the last degree and he was at times insane.
[1] Frederick, Prince of Wales, George II's son, died before his
father, leaving his son George heir to the throne. See Genealogical
Table, p. 323.
His mother, who had seen how ministers and parties ruled in England
(S534), resolved that her son should have the control. Her constant
injunction to the young Prince was, "Be King, George, be King!" so
that when he came to power George was determined to be King if
self-will could make him one.[2]
[2] See Summary of Constitutional History in the Appendix, p.xxv, S28.
But beneath this spirit of self-will there was a moral principle. In
being King, George III intended to carry out a reform such as neither
George I nor George II could have accomplished, supposing that either
one had possessed the desire to undertake it.
The great Whig (SS479, 507) families of rank and wealth had now held
uninterrupted possession of the government for nearly half a century.
Their influence was so supreme that the sovereign had practically
become a mere cipher, dependent for his authority on the political
support which he received. The King was resolved that this state of
things should continue no longer. He was determined to reassert the
royal authority, secure a government which should reflect his
principles, and have a ministry to whom he could dictate, instead of
one that dictated to him.
For a long time he struggled in vain, but at last succeeded, and found
in Lord North a Prime Minister (S534) who bowed to the royal will, and
endeavored to carry out George III's favorite policy of "governing
for, but never by, the people." That policy finally called forth
Mr. Dunning's famous resolution in the House of Commons (1780). It
boldly declared the King's influence "had increased, was increasing,
and ought to be diminished." But his Majesty's measures had other
consequences, which were more far-reaching and disastrous than any one
in the House of Commons then imagined.