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Great Britain: George I
1714 to 1721
Denomination: AR Shilling 1773
Obverse: Laureate bust right "GEORGIVS M.B.R. FR. ET HIB. REX F.D." Reverse: Shields of England, Scotland, Ireland and France, surmounted by crown, "SS/C" in quarters. "BRVN ET L. DUX S.R.I.A.T.H." Above "1723" Dia/Wgt: 25.4 mm/ 5.9 gm Reference: SCBC 3647 |
Denomination: AE Halfpenny 2nd "Dump" Issue 1723
Obverse: Bust right. "GEORGIVS REX" Reverse: Britannia seated left. "BRITANNIA/ 1723" Dia/Wgt: 7.8 mm/ 8.4 gm Reference: SCBC 3660 |
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GEORGE I (1660-1727), King of Great Britain (1st August 1714 to 11th June 1727) and Elector of Hanover (1698-1727), was the first of the Hanoverian line of British rulers. George was born in Osnabrück, Hanover (now in Germany), on May 28, 1660, the son of Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover, and Sophia, granddaughter of King James I of England. George succeeded Queen Anne by the terms of the Act of Settlement. Thoroughly German in tastes and habits, he never learned the English language, and he made periodic lengthy visits to Hanover, which always remained his primary concern, despite his dutiful efforts to attend to his new kingdom's needs. He remained, however, unpopular in Britain, a fact that contributed to Jacobite plots to replace him with James II's son, James Edward Stuart, known as the Old Pretender. George appointed only Whigs as his ministers and advisers, reasoning that the Tories were favourable to the Stuart cause. He took a keen interest in foreign affairs, and it was his judgement that made possible the formation in 1717 of the third Triple Alliance with the Netherlands and France. For domestic policies he relied on his ministers, James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope, Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend of Raynham, and Robert Walpole. Their sound administrative skills strengthened the position of the house of Hanover in Great Britain. He was succeeded by his son, George II. George died in Osnabrück on June 11, 1727. |