George I

King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1714 to 1727

George I
File:George I by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt (3).jpg
Portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1714
Title	King of Great Britain and Ireland
Reign	1 August 1714 – 11 June 1727
Coronation	20 October 1714
Predecessor	Anne
Successor	George II
Spouse	Sophia Dorothea of Celle
Issue	George II
Full Name	George Louis
House	House of Hanover
Father	Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover
Mother	Sophia of Hanover
Birth Date	28 May 1660
Birth Place	Hanover, Holy Roman Empire
Death Date	11 June 1727 (aged 67)
Death Place	Osnabrück, Holy Roman Empire
Burial Date	4 August 1727
Burial Place	Leineschloss, Hanover

George I (George Louis; 28 May 1660 – 11 June 1727) was the first King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death in 1727. He was also the Elector of Hanover within the Holy Roman Empire from 1698. George I was the first British monarch of the House of Hanover.

Early Life

George was born on 28 May 1660 in Hanover, in the Holy Roman Empire, to Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover and Sophia of Hanover. His mother was the granddaughter of James VI and I, which established George's claim to the British throne.

Ascension to the Throne

George ascended to the British throne following the death of his second cousin, Queen Anne, due to the Act of Settlement 1701, which aimed to ensure a Protestant succession. His reign marked the beginning of the Georgian era of British history.

Reign

During his reign, George I faced several challenges, including the Jacobite rising of 1715, which sought to restore the House of Stuart to the throne. His reign also saw the development of the modern system of Cabinet government led by a Prime Minister, a role first held by Robert Walpole.

Personal Life

George married his cousin, Sophia Dorothea of Celle, in 1682. The marriage was unhappy, and they eventually separated. They had two children: George II and Sophia Dorothea, who married Frederick William I of Prussia.

Death and Legacy

George I died on 11 June 1727 during a visit to his native Hanover and was buried in the Leineschloss. His legacy includes the establishment of the Hanoverian dynasty in Britain and the strengthening of the constitutional monarchy.

Related Pages

• House of Hanover
• George II of Great Britain
• Jacobite rising of 1715
• Robert Walpole
• Act of Settlement 1701
• Georgian era