George III was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 to 1820. He was a son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. He was a grandson to his predecessor George II. He married Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Three of his sons served as kings, George IV and William IV to the United Kingdom and Ernest Augustus I to Hanover. His grandaughter Victoria also reigned.

His long reign was marked by several major conflicts, including the conclusion of the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), the French Revolutionary War (1792 - 1802) and the Napoleonic Wars (c. 1803 - 1815). Effectively meaning the British forces were almost constantly mobilized in Europe, the Americas, India and various parts of Asia and Africa for the duration of the reign. Meanwhile the mental health of George III gradually eroded because of his struggle with porphyria, a blood disease. He was placed under a regency from 1811 to his death.