© Richard Randall

Caribbean

Sundries

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The Catholic Question

George IV spent the majority of his reign in seclusion at Windsor Castle, but continued to interfere in politics. At first, it was believed that he would support Catholic Emancipation, but his anti-Catholic views became clear in 1824. The influence of the Crown was so great, and the will of the Tories under Prime Minister Lord Liverpool so strong, that Catholic Emancipation seemed hopeless. In 1827, however, Lord Liverpool retired, to be replaced by the pro-Emancipation Tory George Canning. When Canning entered office, the King, who was hitherto content with privately instructing his ministers on the Catholic Question, thought it fit to make a more bold declaration. It was made known that "his sentiments … on the Catholic question, were those his revered father, George III, and lamented brother, the Duke of York, had maintained during their lives, and which he himself had professed when Prince of Wales, and which nothing could shake; finally, … that the recent ministerial arrangements were the result of circumstances, to His Majesty equally unforeseen and unpleasant."

Canning's views on the Catholic Question were not well-received by the most conservative Tories, including the Duke of Wellington. As a result, the ministry was forced to include Whigs. Canning died later in that year, leaving Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich to lead the tenuous Tory-Whig coalition. Lord Goderich left office in 1828, to be succeeded by the Duke of Wellington, who had by that time accepted that the denial of some measure of relief to Roman Catholics was politically untenable. With great difficulty, Wellington obtained the King's consent to the introduction of a Catholic Relief Bill. The King afterwards withdrew his approval, yet he granted it again. Relief was granted to Catholics in 1829.

Legacy

George IV died in 1830 and was buried in Windsor Castle. His daughter, Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales, had died from post-partum complications in 1817, after delivering a still-born son; his eldest younger brother, Frederick, the Duke of York, also pre-deceased him in 1827. He was therefore succeeded by another of his brothers, William, Duke of Clarence, who reigned as William IV.

On George's death The Times commented unfavourably: There never was an individual less regretted by his fellow creatures than this deceased king. What eye has wept for him? What heart has heaved one throb of unmercenary sorrow? [...] If he ever had a friend - a devoted friend in any rank of life - we protest that the name of him or her never reached us.

The Economist, on the other hand, commented favourably on George's dislike of the Corn Laws and pro-free-trade opinions.

There are many statues of George IV, many erected during his reign. Some in the UK include a bronze statue of George IV on horseback in Trafalgar Square, another of him on horseback at the end of the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park and another outside the Royal Pavillion in Brighton. In Edinburgh George IV Bridge is a main street linking the Old Town High Street to the south over the ravine of the Cowgate, designed by the architect Thomas Hamilton in 1829 and completed in 1835.

In fiction, he is usually represented as extravagant, stupid and irresponsible, notably by Hugh Laurie in the mock historical comedy series Blackadder the Third and by Rupert Everett in the 1994 film The Madness of King George III.

In 1907, the Nuttall encyclopedia described him as the "First Gentleman of Europe" on account of "his fine style and manners."

Style and arms

George's official style whilst King was "George the Fourth, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith." His arms were: Quarterly, I and IV Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or (for England); II Or a lion rampant within a tressure flory-counter-flory Gules (for Scotland); III Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland); overall an escutcheon tierced per pale and per chevron (for Hanover), I Gules two lions passant guardant Or (for Brunswick), II Or a semy of hearts Gules a lion rampant Azure (for L¸neburg), III Gules a horse courant Argent (for Westfalen), the whole inescutcheon surmounted by a crown.

Titles and Style, in order from birth:

• His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall

• His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales

• His Royal Highness The Prince Regent

• His Majesty The King

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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