WI: George III assassinated?

[oshron]

i just learned that, in 1802, there was a failed assassination plot against George III of the United Kingdom led by Edward Despard. his plot would have also entailed the capture of the Bank of England and the Tower of London while awaiting a popular uprising in support of him

anyway, i was wondering: what does everyone think would be the repercussions of George III being killed in 1802, even if the full plot ultimately fails?

i imagine George IV would immediately succeed his father, but what then?

[oshron]

no takers?

[Derek Jackson]

Even more repression than in OTL, but that would be hard

[oshron]

any particular way that would be done? and what about future monarchs?

[Tellos]

I'd just assume those like Lord North would have continued his similar branch of stupid. Since generally the king had no real power he just was a speaking peice for those like North in the country who held real power.

[wolf_brother]

Wasn't George IV already de-facto the real sovereign, at least as far as many in Parliament were concerned, after the regency crisis a few decades earlier? I mean, George III wasn't exactly in the most remarkable health, so death by assassination just means all of the succession plans that were already in place IOTL are activated. Heck, IOTL when George III couldn't fullfill his duties in 1810 George IV became Prince Regent via the 1788 Regency Act. All this does is move things up half a dozen years... which in and of itself opens a jar of butterflies.

Domestically, Pitt probably comes back to power earlier, as even IOTL George IV largely let his ministers rule the country and was far less involved in the day-to-day operations of government than his father. This also means Catholic Emancipation is likely pushed forward immediately. Hell, after Pitt dies Fox might even take the Premiership.

Internationally, this likely will mean peace with Napoleonic France after the collapse of the Fourth Coalition - which in turn is going to mean no Peninsular War, or the disaster of the Fifth Coalition, so Napoléon never leaves Joséphine (I'd wager Napoléon-Louis is declared the heir).

EDIT: So something like this, perhaps.



Also, this likely means a harder life for Queen Caroline, and obviously Princess Charlotte stays under George IV's thumb.

[tallthinkev]

Don't think much would happen, just a swap from a 'mad' king to a fat one.

[Emperor Constantine]

Originally Posted by wolf_brother

Wasn't George IV already de-facto the real sovereign, at least as far as many in Parliament were concerned, after the regency crisis a few decades earlier? I mean, George III wasn't exactly in the most remarkable health, so death by assassination just means all of the succession plans that were already in place IOTL are activated. Heck, IOTL when George III couldn't fullfill his duties in 1810 George IV became Prince Regent via the 1788 Regency Act. All this does is move things up half a dozen years... which in and of itself opens a jar of butterflies.

Domestically, Pitt probably comes back to power earlier, as even IOTL George IV largely let his ministers rule the country and was far less involved in the day-to-day operations of government than his father. This also means Catholic Emancipation is likely pushed forward immediately. Hell, after Pitt dies Fox might even take the Premiership.

Internationally, this likely will mean peace with Napoleonic France after the collapse of the Fourth Coalition - which in turn is going to mean no Peninsular War, or the disaster of the Fifth Coalition, so Napoléon never leaves Joséphine (I'd wager Napoléon-Louis is declared the heir).

EDIT: So something like this, perhaps.



Also, this likely means a harder life for Queen Caroline, and obviously Princess Charlotte stays under George IV's thumb.

Speaking of Queen Caroline, could George IV succeed in trying to have his marriage annulled? I mean theirs a big difference between 1821 and 1802. So perhaps George III's assassination could result in a longer lasting House of Hanover.