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The English Monarchs
George II: King and Elector
Despite a long and eventful reign, Britain's George II is a largely forgotten monarch, his achievements overlooked and his abilities misunderstood. This landmark biography uncovers extensive new evidence in British and German archives, making possible the most complete and accurate assessment of this thirty-three-year reign. Andrew C. Thompson paints a richly detailed portrait of the many-faceted monarch in his public as well as his private life. Born in Hanover in 1683, George Augustus first came to London in 1714 as the new Prince of Wales. He assumed the throne in 1727, held it until his death in 1760, and has the distinction of being Britain's last foreign-born king and the last king to lead an army in battle. With George's story at its heart, the book reconstructs his thoughts and actions through a careful reading of the letters and papers of those around him. Thompson explores the previously underappreciated roles George played in the political processes of Britain, especially in foreign policy, and also charts the intricacies of the king's complicated relationships and reassesses the lasting impact of his frequent return trips to Hanover. George II emerges from these pages as an independent and cosmopolitan figure of undeniable historical fascination.
315 pages, Hardcover
First published June 28, 2011
About the author
Andrew C. Thompson
8 books1 followerAndrew C. Thompson is fellow and director of studies in history, Queens' College, Cambridge.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 19, 2025
For my final nonfiction read of the year, I selected
George II: King and Elector
by Andrew C. Thompson. The second of the Hanoverian kings, George August was born in 1683 and first came to London in 1714 as the new Prince of Wales. He wouldn't assume the throne until his father's death in 1727 and ruled until 1760. He was Britian's last foreign-born king and the last to lead an army in battle.
Like his father, George II is one of the lesser written about monarchs, and Thompson begins the text by discussing the limitation of resources. Still, he makes use of the letters and papers of those closest to the monarch (his government and courts) to present a very detailed account of his reign. Similar to George I, Thompson draws our eye to foreign policy, where George II’ prerogative can really be seen in action. He was very keen to preserve Hanoverian interests, particularly from Austrian and French encroachment. There was lots of interesting stuff about the Pragmatic Sanction and Maria Theresa.
With George I we saw the emergence of the prime minister and the shift toward a cabinet government. This was strengthened during George II’s reign as he had divided interests and attention as king and elector of Hanover. The text contains plenty of information about Walpole and Queen Caroline’s influence in domestic affairs. It was a bit tedious to wade through some of the ministerial complications and controversies, but it also allowed me to develop a much firmer grasp on George II’s reign as a whole. On the personal front we get a few glimpses at the king’s various mistresses and his troubled relationship with his son, Frederick (a hallmark of the Hanoverians, the tortured grandfather-father-son relationships.)
The popular historical view has often dismissed George II as being a weak and ineffectual ruler, controlled by mistresses and ministers. Thompson argues against this, though he admits that the fellow might have lacked consistency. George II: King and Elector makes a convincing case through emphasis on his dual roles, time as Prince of Wales, and military leadership.
Like his father, George II is one of the lesser written about monarchs, and Thompson begins the text by discussing the limitation of resources. Still, he makes use of the letters and papers of those closest to the monarch (his government and courts) to present a very detailed account of his reign. Similar to George I, Thompson draws our eye to foreign policy, where George II’ prerogative can really be seen in action. He was very keen to preserve Hanoverian interests, particularly from Austrian and French encroachment. There was lots of interesting stuff about the Pragmatic Sanction and Maria Theresa.
With George I we saw the emergence of the prime minister and the shift toward a cabinet government. This was strengthened during George II’s reign as he had divided interests and attention as king and elector of Hanover. The text contains plenty of information about Walpole and Queen Caroline’s influence in domestic affairs. It was a bit tedious to wade through some of the ministerial complications and controversies, but it also allowed me to develop a much firmer grasp on George II’s reign as a whole. On the personal front we get a few glimpses at the king’s various mistresses and his troubled relationship with his son, Frederick (a hallmark of the Hanoverians, the tortured grandfather-father-son relationships.)
The popular historical view has often dismissed George II as being a weak and ineffectual ruler, controlled by mistresses and ministers. Thompson argues against this, though he admits that the fellow might have lacked consistency. George II: King and Elector makes a convincing case through emphasis on his dual roles, time as Prince of Wales, and military leadership.
October 27, 2020
This book felt like it had a clearer imagined audience (non-specialists) than Black's similar work, however I felt like this sometimes resulted in tangents of varying usefulness.
June 11, 2016
George II. To paraphrase a vice presidential candidate "who was he, why was he written about?"
Perhaps one of Britain's most forgotten kings, but he was one of the longest reigns in history (1727-1760) and as such had quite an impact on the course of that nation's history.
Perhaps his greatest contribution was to the rise in supremacy of the "cabinet" and the "prime minister" over the king and his "closet" of unaccountable advisors. This rise can be attributed to the fact that George was both king of the United Kingdom AND Elector (ruling prince) of the German territory of Hanover. As such George had to divide his "Royal person" and try to make decisions for each place independently.
He also had to divide his time. He spent part of almost 10 years in Hanover, and while his British ministers had to consult him on major decisions, there was also a lot that he had to empower them to do themselves.
Some say that he emasculated the monarchy. I say "and so what?" The changes he brought about about probably were the foundations of today's strength of the monarchy. It has the right to be consulted, to warn, and to advise, but it does not rule. As such, while ministers very much had to curry favor with the king (because they wanted honors, titles, and sinecures that were in the Kings domain) they didn't have to agree to his every governmental whim.
They made decisions because they held the "purse strings" but George held both the "fount of honor" and the international connections that "lubricated" relations with allies and enemies.
All in all an interesting read, and one in which I learned quite a bit I didn't preciously know.
Perhaps one of Britain's most forgotten kings, but he was one of the longest reigns in history (1727-1760) and as such had quite an impact on the course of that nation's history.
Perhaps his greatest contribution was to the rise in supremacy of the "cabinet" and the "prime minister" over the king and his "closet" of unaccountable advisors. This rise can be attributed to the fact that George was both king of the United Kingdom AND Elector (ruling prince) of the German territory of Hanover. As such George had to divide his "Royal person" and try to make decisions for each place independently.
He also had to divide his time. He spent part of almost 10 years in Hanover, and while his British ministers had to consult him on major decisions, there was also a lot that he had to empower them to do themselves.
Some say that he emasculated the monarchy. I say "and so what?" The changes he brought about about probably were the foundations of today's strength of the monarchy. It has the right to be consulted, to warn, and to advise, but it does not rule. As such, while ministers very much had to curry favor with the king (because they wanted honors, titles, and sinecures that were in the Kings domain) they didn't have to agree to his every governmental whim.
They made decisions because they held the "purse strings" but George held both the "fount of honor" and the international connections that "lubricated" relations with allies and enemies.
All in all an interesting read, and one in which I learned quite a bit I didn't preciously know.
August 25, 2013
This took me quite a long time to read as this is rather a dry biography. However I did find George II's story interesting as he has never been a point on my historical interest radar to date.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews