George II of Great Britain
George II was the last British monarch to lead troops personally in battle, commanding at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743 during the War of the Austrian Succession — an engagement fought in what is now Germany, and a moment of personal bravery that briefly revived his popularity. His reign witnessed the last serious Jacobite challenge to Hanoverian rule: the rising of 1745 led by Charles Edward Stuart ('Bonnie Prince Charlie'), which penetrated as far south as Derby before retreating to destruction at Culloden in April 1746. The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) began under his reign, with William Pitt the Elder's global strategy transforming what began as military setbacks into sweeping victories in Canada, India, West Africa, and the Caribbean. A man of regular habits, genuine personal courage, and frequently poor relations with his ministers — he initially loathed Pitt and had to be persuaded to accept him — he died suddenly of a heart attack at Kensington Palace in October 1760, just as the war was turning decisively in Britain's favour.
- Lived: 1683 CE – 1760 CE
- Nationality: british
- Roles: king, elector, military commander
