n.
orig. George Augustus German Georg August
born Nov. 10, 1683, Herrenhausen Palace, Hanover
died Oct. 25, 1760, London, Eng.
King of Great Britain and elector of Hanover (172760).
His father, the elector of Hanover, became George I of England; he succeeded him in both roles in 1727. He retained Robert Walpole as his key minister until 1742. His new minister, John Carteret (16901763), brought England into the War of the Austrian Succession , where George fought courageously at the Battle of Dettingen (1743), the last time a British king appeared on the battlefield. The parliament and ministers forced Carteret's resignation and the appointment of William Pitt . George lost interest in politics, and Pitt's strategy brought about a British victory in the Seven Years' War .