George IV Facts & Worksheets

George IV reigned from 1820 to 1830 as King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and Hanover. He was well-known for his extravagant life and controversies. Still, he was remarkable due to his contribution and support for the arts and architecture, pushing the country into a new age of cultural richness.

See the fact file below for more information about George IV, or you can download our 31-page George IV worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE

• Young George was born at St. James’s Palace on August 12, 1762. 
• As the eldest child of King George III and Queen Charlotte, he held the heavy responsibility and expectations of future kingship from an early age. 
• As the firstborn and as soon as he was born, he became the Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay. 
• Days after, he became Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester. 
• His early life was mainly influenced by his parents’ contrasting personalities and beliefs. 
• His father held a conservative outlook, while his mother patronized arts and sciences. 
• Young George’s teenage years and early adulthood were described as extravagant and rebellious. 
• At 18, he was given a separate establishment. Despite his father’s warnings, he immersed himself in a life of waste and misspending. 
• His unchecked extravagance became a concern for the royal family and the government. 
• He was known for excessive indulgence in wine and women and extravagant spending on fashion, food, and entertainment. 
• During his 20s, he became a prominent figure in leading fashion, becoming the trendsetter of men’s fashion of his time. 
• His style of dress, the Regency style, significantly influenced British design. 
• It was the time of his life marked by hedonism, as he spiraled into a life of heavy drinking, gambling, and illicit relationships, which strained his relationship with his father and the kingdom’s treasury. 
• When he reached 21 in 1783, George received a grant of £60,000 from the Parliament and £50,000 as an annual income. 
• This significant sum was intended to support his royal duties and enable him to maintain the stature of a future king. 
• However, with his desire for luxury and extravagance, George spent this income on his extravagant lifestyle, leading to mounting debts and financial troubles. 
• His financial recklessness was a matter of public record and concern, further tarnishing his image among his future subjects.
• During this age, he also moved to Carlton House. 
• This lavish residence was on the south side of Pall Mall in London.
• It was a space where he could indulge his extravagant tastes without restraint. 
• The House became a hub of high society, hosting elaborate parties and gatherings that were the talk of the town. 
• During these years, he also developed a deep fondness for Maria Fitzherbert, a commoner and a twice-widowed Catholic, whom he married secretly on December 15, 1785, when he was just 21. 
• Their meeting was not as conventional as royal introductions.
• They were introduced by a mutual acquaintance at the opera in 1784. 
• Despite being a Catholic, which was controversial in Protestant England, she won George’s heart with charm and wit. 
• George’s relentless pursuit and earnest affection eventually won over Maria’s reluctance. 
• He was determined to marry her despite the Act of Settlement 1701, which prohibited from succeeding to the throne the spouse of a Catholic.
• Moreover, George’s parents disapproved of their marriage, which was considered invalid by the Royal Marriages Act of 1772. 
• The couple separated in 1794; however, George remained deeply attached to Fitzherbert for most of his life. 
• Despite their forced separation, George maintained close contact with her until his death.

MARRIAGE

• Apart from his secret marriage to Maria Fitzherbert, he was officially married to Caroline of Brunswick. George was also known to have several mistresses throughout his life.

Caroline of Brunswick

• In 1795, despite his deep affection for Maria Fitzherbert, George was forced into an arranged marriage with Caroline of Brunswick to relieve his mounting debts.
• However, their union was far from being happy because, from the outset, the couple shared a mutual dislike for each other. 
• George was reportedly disgusted by Caroline’s appearance and behavior, while Caroline found George’s extravagant lifestyle and infidelities distasteful. 
• The marriage was mainly in name only, and after the birth of Princess Charlotte, their daughter, in 1796, the couple lived separately and had their own affairs. 
• Caroline left the United Kingdom in 1814 but returned for George’s coronation and to claim her rights as queen consort.
• George refused to acknowledge her as the queen and ordered all British Ambassadors to ensure that monarchs in foreign courts rejected her, too. 
• Caroline’s name was removed from the Book of Common Prayer by royal command. 
• George considered divorcing Caroline, but his advisors suggested that any divorce proceedings might publicize information about George IV’s adulterous relationships. 
• George introduced the Pains and Penalties Bill, which annulled their marriage and removed Caroline from her title as queen. 
• However, it was highly unpopular with the public, and the Parliament withdrew it. 
• George still excluded her from his coronation. 
• Caroline fell ill on the same day and died on August 7, 1821.

Mistresses and Affairs

• In addition to his troubled marital experiences, George had numerous mistresses.
• His most notable mistresses were Frances Villiers (Countess of Jersey), Mary Robinson (famous actress), Isabella Anne Seymour-Conway (Marchioness of Hertford), and Elizabeth Conyngham  (Marchioness Conyngham).
• Frances Villiers was influential in both George’s public and private life. 
• She controlled access to the prince and even influenced his political decisions. 
• On the other hand, Mary Robinson was a renowned actress who caught George’s eye with her beauty and talent. 
• Isabella Seymour-Conway influenced him during his time as Prince Regent, sparking his interest in the arts and overseeing the renovation of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. 
• Elizabeth Conyngham was George’s last mistress, who stayed with him until he died in 1830. 

REGENCY

• During the later years of King George III‘s reign, his health declined significantly. 
• He was later diagnosed with porphyria, a rare group of genetic disorders affecting the nervous system. 
• His deteriorating mental health and inability to rule effectively resulted in a constitutional crisis, requiring the appointment of a regency.
• In 1810, due to the King’s declining health, Parliament discussed establishing a regency.
• The Regency Act of 1811 declared George III too ill to perform his duties, transferring powers to his eldest son, George, who became the Prince Regent. 
• Prince Regent George ruled on behalf of his father until he died in 1820.
• As Prince Regent, George had all the powers and responsibilities of the King. 
• However, his extravagant lifestyle and preference for sycophants hurt his popularity. 
• His troubled relationships with his estranged wife, Caroline of Brunswick, and his former secret wife, Maria Fitzherbert, also fueled gossip and scandal. 
• During the Regency, Prince Regent George focused on architecture and arts. 
• He initiated building projects like expanding the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and constructing Regent’s Park in London. 
• John Nash was commissioned to build the Royal Pavilion, remodel Buckingham Palace, and design the Regency Terraces of the Regent’s Park and Regent Street. 
• Despite the personal scandals and the public’s low opinion of him, Prince Regent George’s regency was marked by significant cultural and political change. 
• It was also a period of significant social change, with the Industrial Revolution transforming Britain’s economy and social structure. 
• His regency ended in 1820 when he became King George IV. 

REIGN OF KING GEORGE IV

• George IV ascended to the throne on January 29, 1820, following his father’s death. 
• His reign, although short-lived, was full of merges of cultural, political, and architectural advancements in Britain. 

Political Contributions

• King George IV had to struggle with several political challenges during his reign. 
• The Napoleonic Wars had strained the country economically, with increasing demands for political and social reform. 
• The King, however, was mainly considered uninterested in the complexities of politics and was often criticized for his perceived lack of leadership. 
• One of the significant political milestones of his reign was the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Act in 1829, which allowed Roman Catholics to sit in the Parliament for the first time since the Reformation. 
• Despite his personal opposition, George IV was eventually persuaded by Prime Minister Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, and Home Secretary Robert Peel to agree to the bill. 
• This move was seen as a significant step towards religious equality in Britain.

Cultural Contributions

• Despite his political shortcomings, King George IV profoundly impacted British culture. 
• With his passion for arts, he greatly influenced the aesthetics of the Regency and Georgian eras. 
• He collected extensively, accumulating a wealth of art and literature that enriched the Royal Collection.
• His patronage significantly benefited artists, writers, and musicians, and his reign saw the flourishing of Romantic poets such as Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, and John Keats.

Architectural Contributions

• George IV’s love for architecture and design was reflected in several iconic landmarks he commissioned during his reign.
• His transformation of Buckingham Palace from a large townhouse into a grand royal residence and the luxurious renovation by Jeffry Wyatville of Windsor Castle remain his lasting architectural legacies.
• He was also significant in developing the King’s Library for the British Museum, reflecting his commitment to preserving and promoting knowledge. 
• The King’s Library contained a large collection of artwork, books, and manuscripts by George III.
• When George III died, George IV arranged to move all his collection to the British Museum and donate it to the nation.

DEATH

• George IV’s life was marked by indulgence and excess, leading to many health issues that plagued him until his death. 
• Known for his extravagant lifestyle, he was fond of sumptuous foods, alcohol, and laudanum, which eventually took a toll on his health. 
• His diet, rich in meats and sweets, and a lack of physical activity made him obese. 
• At his heaviest, he was reported to weigh over 20 stone (about 280 pounds or 140 kilograms) and had a waist measuring 50 inches.
• His excessive weight brought about myriad health complications, including gout and arteriosclerosis, a condition that hardens the arteries and restricts blood flow.
• Perhaps his most dangerous vice was his excessive consumption of alcohol. 
• George IV was a heavy drinker, preferring strong liquors and wines. 
• His dependency on alcohol, along with his use of laudanum, may have led to addiction, further deteriorating his health. 
• The King’s health issues were not limited to physical ailments. 
• He showed signs of mental health problems. 
• George IV was known to suffer from a period of melancholy and had episodes of paranoia, particularly towards the end of his life.
• George IV’s declining health significantly impacted his ability to rule. 
• He often suffered from prolonged periods of ill health, hindering his capacity to participate in political life and contributing to his reputation for being detached from his royal duties. 
• The King’s health continued to deteriorate until his final days. In his last few years, he was bedridden, suffering from breathlessness and dropsy. 
• On June 26, 1830, he passed away at 67 and was succeeded by William IV, his brother.

George IV Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about George IV across 31 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about George IV. George IV reigned from 1820 to 1830 as King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and Hanover. He was well-known for his extravagant life and controversies.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. George IV Facts
2. Look Inside
3. False Alarm
4. The Act of Settlement 1701
5. Describe Me
6. Who Are These People?
7. Contributions
8. What Happened Next?
9. Bad Habits
10. I Do?
11. It’s George IV!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was George IV, and when did he become king?

George IV, whose full name was George Augustus Frederick, was the King of the United Kingdom. He ascended to the throne on January 29, 1820, following the death of his father, George III.

What is George IV known for during his reign?

George IV is known for his extravagant and lavish lifestyle. He was a patron of the arts and played a significant role in the development of the Regency style in architecture and design. His reign is often associated with the Regency era in England.

Why did George IV’s reign begin with a period of regency?

George IV’s reign began with a period of regency because his father, George III, had become mentally incapacitated due to illness. As a result, George IV served as Prince Regent from 1811 until he became king in 1820.

What major architectural project is associated with George IV?

George IV is closely associated with the construction and renovation of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. This architectural masterpiece showcases the exotic and eclectic Regency style and served as a seaside retreat for the king.

What were some of the political developments during George IV’s reign?

What were some of the political developments during George IV’s reign?

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