23. The Last British Monarch Born Outside of Great Britain
George II (1683 – 1760) was King of Great Britain, Elector of Hannover, and a Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 1727 until his demise in 1760. This George was a constitutional monarch who exercised little control over British policy, which was controlled by Parliament. He had more direct control over Hanover and spent twelve summers there running things. Although he had little direct power in Britain, he had a calming and stabilizing presence, and the British Empire prospered and grew during his reign.
George II was born in Hanover, and among other things, he holds the distinction of being the last British monarch to have been born outside of Great Britain. He also holds the distinction of being the last British monarch to have personally led an army into battle. The latter took place in 1743, during the War of the Austrian Succession. At the Battle of Dettingen that year, George commanded his troops in person, as British, Hanoverian, and Austrian forces took on a French army.
