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 King George III
was the first Hanoverian monarch to actually
speak English as his first language. Major events
during his reign included both the American
Revolution and the War of 1812, as well as the
creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland. |
 Edmund Burke
reluctantly entered politics as a member of
Parliament in 1765, but soon became one of the
leading figures in the House of Commons. Always
ready to speak his mind concerning the major
issues of the day, he is today most remembered
for his volumes of writings, including Reflections
on the Revolution in France. |
 William Pitt
served as Secretary of State from 1756 to 1761, and it was in this capacity that he made
his biggest impact on British history. His
policies led to French defeats in North America,
the West Indies, India, Europe, West Africa, and
on the seas, and the British Empire reached its
greatest extent ever. |
 Spencer Perceval
became Prime Minister in 1809. His government was
marred by upheavals caused by the Industrial
Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and the
increasing madness of King George III. On May 11,
1812, he became the only British Prime Minister
to be assassinated. |
 Luddites From early 1811 until early 1813,
during the turning point of the Napoleonic Wars,
three regions of England were disturbed by a
series of industrial riots involving the
destruction of machinery. |
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