June 4, 1738 - January 29, 1820

February 22,  1732 - December 14, 1799

Norfolk House is the building on the far right in this picture

Prince George is on the right. His brother, Prince Edward, is the child to the left. Their tutor was Francis Ayscough

Photo credit: Calder Loth 2023

In October of 1760, when he was 22 years old, George III became king. The next year, King George decided that it was his duty to the country to get married. In order to keep peace within Britain and to avoid any strong political alliances, he thought it best to marry a princess from outside of Britain. 

Eight German princesses were considered, and Princess Charlotte was chosen without the two ever meeting in person. In fact, they were married the evening of the same day they met! Luckily, Queen Charlotte and King George III fell in love and became supportive companions for each other. They would often play duets, with Queen Charlotte playing the harpsichord and King George III the flute.

Over the next 20 years, Queen Charlotte and King George III would become parents to 15 children.

In 1758, when he was 26 years old, George Washington returned to Virginia during a break in fighting in the French and Indian War. While there, he learned of a recently widowed and very wealthy woman named Martha Dandridge Custis. Martha's first husband had passed away and left her a large inheritance of 15,000 acres. George's brother passed away and he inherited his 2,000 acre estate, Mount Vernon.

Martha and George soon fell in love. They courted throughout 1758 and were married on January 6, 1759. George became step-father to Martha's two children from her first marriage.

King George III ended up with the nickname "Farmer George" partly because of his interest in agriculture. When George first became king, farming was still the most important part of Britain's economy. During his time as king, the technology of farming improved.

While not a farmer himself, King George III was interested in agriculture, read many books on the subject, and kept notes about what he read.

George Washington thought of himself as a farmer, and he experimented with his farming to increase the amount of crops he could grow. He wanted to share this information with his neighbors so they could be more successful in their farming, as well.

In the 1760s, he switched from growing tobacco, which was hard on the soil, to growing more corn and wheat.

Unfortunately, Washington's large farms relied on slavery.

"Whereas many of our subjects...in North-"America, misled by dangerous and ill-designing men, and forgetting the allegiance which they owe to the power that has protected and sustained them... have at length proceeded to an open and avowed Rebellion... we do accordingly strictly charge and command all our officers, as well as civil and military, and all other our obedient and loyal subjects, to use their utmost endeavours to withstand and suppress such Rebellion, and to disclose and make known all treasons and traitorous conspiracies which they shall know to be against us, our Crown and dignity."

A Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition (23 August 1775)

SIMPLIFIED VERSION

Some people in North America have been tricked by bad people with bad plans. These people have forgotten that they should be loyal to the King, who has kept them safe and helped them. Now, they are openly fighting against the King, which is called a rebellion.

So, we are telling all of our officers, both those who work for the government and those in the army, and all of our other loyal people, to do everything they can to stop this rebellion. They must also tell us about any secrets or plans to betray the King, our power, and our honor.

"The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them. The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die."

General Orders - Tuesday, July 2, 1776

SIMPLIFIED VERSION

The time is almost here when we will find out if Americans will be free or become slaves. We need to decide if we will own our own things, or if everything we have will be taken away. Will our homes and farms be robbed and ruined? Will we be stuck in a terrible situation that we can't get out of?

The future of millions of people who aren't even born yet will depend on how brave and how well this army acts. God is watching over us. Our mean and stubborn enemy is only giving us two choices: We can fight bravely, or we can give up and let them control us. So, we must decide now: Will we win, or will we die trying?