About a month ago I started a parody Bluesky account purporting to be King George III. At first I thought of it as a way to make some political jokes. I should have known that it would lead me into a new rabbit hole of research. These things always do.
In order to get some engagement, I looked for posts that mentioned George III’s name and occasionally responded as if he were looking back on his life over 200 years ago. This led me into learning more about him and responding to misconceptions. A ridiculous number of people think his mental illness, which dated from 1789, somehow affected his handling of the North American Colonies and the Revolution, which ended in 1781. Many of these people compare him to Donald Trump, which is unfair. He didn’t hold nearly as much power as Trump has grabbed for himself.
Many of the offenses which the Declaration of Independence attributes to the King of Britain were really Parliament’s fault. King George had no power to levy taxes, and he didn’t have a great role in governing the colonies. He supported a strong policy against the rebels and sent over troops to suppress them, so he’s to blame on that point. Many other heads of state have done the same when their overseas colonies try to break away.
He was still king during the War of 1812, a fact I don’t often see mentioned. He had been stripped of power by then, though, and really was a “mad king.” His son, who was later George IV, held royal power as regent. George III had no role in the war.
Sometimes it gets down into the details. I came upon a Bluesky post citing a Guardian article calling George IV (the son of George III) an ancestor of Charles III. This seemed wrong, as George IV had only one child, who had no surviving offspring. I responded in George’s voice questioning the claim. Later I saw that the Guardian added a correction. I’d like to think my King George puppet deserves the credit, but it’s unlikely.
It’s fun playing King George and learning a little along the way. If you’re on Bluesky, please consider following the account. You might find it fun too.
You don’t see enough King George III advocates on social media today. Thank you for your dedication to the truth and for your contribution to keeping the Bluesky community informed of King George III.
It’s noble, as well as novel, pursuit.
I wouldn’t call myself an “advocate” of him. He desperately wanted to hold on to the colonies and tried to keep the war going even after Yorktown. But I’m a reflexive fact-checker, even when it improves the image of people I don’t entirely approve of.