Book SummaryThe Last King of America, by Andrew Roberts

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Last King of America

The developmental period, inherent traits, and core political ideologies linked to King George III.

George's disposition and his method of governing were shaped during his early years, which were characterized by family strife and opposition from political rivals.

George's esteem for the British constitution deepened, and he harbored considerable mistrust towards the ruling Whig elite, influenced by the relationships he had with his father and grandfather.

Andrew Roberts offers an in-depth depiction of George III's formative years, highlighting the intense animosity that defined the relationships within the Hanoverian royal family. King George II's aversion to his son, Frederick, Prince of Wales, was so intense that he barred him from the royal residences. George's grandfather frequently showed a lack of interest in his birth and tended to be physically aggressive during their infrequent encounters. The Prince endures the foul odor emanating from his father's decomposing body. George's early experiences were filled with troubling incidents that significantly influenced his character, fostering a deep admiration for the heritage of his father while simultaneously instilling a disdain for his grandfather and the elite social circle he represented.

His initial reluctance intensified due to the ideologies prevalent among members of the Leicester House Set, who shared political and intellectual ties with his father. Roberts depicts this group, shaped by the thoughts of Tory thinkers like Bolingbroke, as determined reformers on a mission to break apart the prevailing power held by the Whig aristocracy. Accusations of the Whigs manipulating the political scene through the use of patronage and nepotism presented a risk to the constitutional balance established by the Glorious Revolution. Raised in an environment that fostered skepticism, George came to harbor a deep-seated wariness of the Whig political group. Andrew Roberts emphasizes the critical events and decisions that shaped George's disposition and his approach to governance, which led to a deep respect for the British constitution and a considerable wariness of the Whig Oligarchy that, in his view, posed a risk to its steadiness.

Lord Bute played a crucial role in shaping George's political acumen and fostering his intellectual development.

Bute instilled in George the belief that his role as monarch included bridging the divisions among various national groups.

Roberts highlights the pivotal role played by John Stuart, the 3rd Earl of Bute, in shaping George's growth. After George's father Frederick passed away, Bute ascended to the role of mentor and confidant. He oversaw George's education, instilling in him a love of the arts, science, and history, and introducing him to influential figures like the architect Sir William Chambers. However, their relationship extended beyond intellectual pursuits. George and his mother deeply trusted Bute, who emerged as a crucial paternal influence shaping his political convictions. Roberts portrays George as the epitome of a sovereign who rises above individual prejudices and partisan splits, governing with the welfare...

The Last King of America Summary King George III's actions and choices during the American Revolution led to disputes with colonial leaders and British authorities.

The escalating disagreements over tax and political representation fortified George's support for increasingly stringent measures.

The king saw the American colonies' rejection of parliamentary taxation as a defiance of British sovereignty, leading him to support increasingly severe measures.

Roberts argues that it was George III's unwavering belief in the supremacy of Parliament in Britain's constitutional framework, rather than any tyrannical aspirations, that drove his dedication to maintaining the legislative body's power to tax the American colonists. Andrew Roberts portrays King George as taking the reins of a well-entrenched system of governance in which the authority of Parliament to enact laws and impose taxes throughout the British Empire had remained uncontested for a considerable duration. George harbored doubts about the Westminster-based parliamentary system, especially regarding its historical practice of enforcing trade restrictions on the colonies through legislation like the Navigation Acts. The king initially regarded the colonists' discontent with the Stamp Act, the Townshend Duties, and other new fiscal impositions merely as opposition to...

The Last King of America Summary King George III's efforts to consolidate royal authority and restructure the administration of Britain included his fiscal policies and dealings with political figures.

George's unwavering objective to replace the dominant Whig elite with a broadly endorsed "Patriot" government led to several changes in the leadership of the prime minister and disputes with senior officials.

The king's approach to governance, which involved establishing short-term alliances rather than depending on the conventional Whig Party, led to frequent changes in the prime minister's office and accusations of inappropriate interference with constitutional procedures from a position out of the public eye.

Andrew Roberts' work delves into George's steadfast determination to diminish the Whig supremacy by forming a government that embodies the best qualities of various political factions, in line with his ideal of a Patriot King, as portrayed by Bolingbroke. A sovereign deeply committed to his country. The king regarded the Whigs as an influential aristocratic group that had been steadily eroding the balanced constitution established by the Glorious Revolution over the course of a century. Prior to ascending to the throne, George's father, along with Lord Bute, had endeavored to dismantle the prevailing Whig supremacy by aligning with a group referred to as the...

The Last King of America Summary During his last year as monarch, George III's reign was characterized by his struggle with mental health problems, resulting in significant changes in how the country was governed.

In 1788, a crisis regarding the regency was triggered by the king's medical problems.

King George III's severe psychological struggles sparked a power struggle, with the factions led by the Queen and the Prince of Wales each revealing their own ambitions for dominance.

Roberts presents a thorough examination of the occurrences between 1788 and 1789, emphasizing the King's early substantial battle with manic depression. The illness emerged gradually and was misdiagnosed by the royal doctors for several weeks before its seriousness was finally recognized. The court's attempts to conceal the true state of the King's health, which had been effectively concealed during his milder episode in 1765 as noted in Chapter 6, further fueled rumors and discussions about its seriousness and possible implications among London's political and social circles. The critical question arose regarding whether the Prince of Wales or the Queen should preside over the Regency Council, tasked with ruling Britain while the King was incapacitated.

The cohesion among the Whigs was primarily due to their shared support for the Prince of Wales. Seizing the chance to implement the decisions made...