A noble, hasty race he ran,
Superbly filthy and fastidious;
He was the world's first gentleman,
And made the appellation hideous.
- W M Pared, Proposed Epitaph, 1825.

Additional Information on
George IV (b. 1762 r. 1820-1830)

George had been the Prince Regent for nine years before his ascension to the English throne - because his father had been too ill to rule. As the Prince of Wales George was a handsome and popular man who had extravagant tastes in food, drink, women and the arts. Unfortunately, he had a history of wild and reckless behaviour which in turn brought disgrace to the monarchy. Whatever respect George III had gained for the British monarchy was soon eroded by his eldest son. The country was also poor after the expense of much warfare during George III's reign and unemployment was high.

George soon became resented for his lavish life, ridiculous spending and for treating his wife badly. George had been forced into marrying Caroline of Brunswick in 1715 in order to get Parliament to pay off his debts. Within months the couple had parted and from then on George tried to deprive her of all her rights as queen. Against her wishes she was excluded from his Coronation in 1821 and died a few weeks afterwards. Throughout his life George enjoyed a succession of mistresses including Mary Robinson, the Countess of Jersey, Lady Melbourne, the Marchioness of Hertford, the Marchioness of Conyngham and Mrs Fitzherbert.

George's stubbornness and pigheadedness led to his unpopularity with Parliament - so much so that the Whigs agreed that if they were elected they would remove all remaining royal power.

George considered himself a man of style and elegance, and his one good point was that he encouraged the arts and architecture. He employed architects, interior decorators and tailors on a stupendous scale - or at least the debts were! The beautiful 'Regency' style of architecture was named after him because it emerged during the time when George was Prince Regent (1811-1820) with his encouragement. George's favourite architect was John Nash who designed the Royal Pavilion at Brighton for him.

QUOTATIONS

A more contemptible, cowardly, selfish, unfeeling dog does not exist than this king, with vices and weaknesses of the lowest and most contemptible order.
- Charles Greville, Diaries.

He was a bad son, a bad husband, a bad father, a bad subject, a bad monarch and a bad friend.
- Spencer Walpole.