He is (after Elvis) the most famous king in American history. Dubbed "the king who lost America," King George III officially began his rule this week (Oct. 25) in 1760, succeeding his grandfather, George II, to the British throne.
Most history books portray him as stubborn, simple and dimwitted. Stubborn he was, and as we shall see, that stubbornness helped cost him his American colonies. As for simple, it was true he was a man of simple tastes, but given that British society at the time was so slavish to fashion that it approached caricature, his refusal to get caught up in "appearances" â?? he stubbornly resisted wearing a wig â?? seems in hindsight admirable. He was also, the later unflattering portraits notwithstanding, rather tall for his day and this side of handsome.
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