The Declaration of Independence paints King George III as one of the worst villains in history and justifies the Revolution as necessary to sever ties with him. In reality, says historian Patrick Allitt of Emory University, he was a sober, conscientious man, serious about his limited role in Britain’s constitutional monarchy.  In contrast to his predecessors, George III was a loyal husband, a family man, studious, and a collector of books and maps. At the same time, he was eager to prevent the colonial rebellion and to defeat it when it began.

Poor British leadership and management, as well as difficult communications, made it impossible for his forces to prevail.  Losing the American colonies was the bitterest chapter of his 60-year reign, which was otherwise studded with British achievements, culminating in the defeat of Napoleon. Allitt revisits the story of this complicated king and his American colonies.

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