George I belonged to the House of Hanover. Born in 1660, he ascended to the throne in 1714 and died in 1727. He was preceded as monarch by Queen Anne and was succeeded by George II.
George I was the first monarch of the House of Hanover. He right to the throne was established by the Act of Settlement of 1701. George married Sophia Dorothea of Zelle in 1682 but divorced her in 1694 on suspicion of intrigue with Philip von Konigsmark and kept her in prison until her death in 1726.
In 1698, he became elector of Hanover for a while commanded the Imperial army during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Becoming British king in 1714, he was unpopular with his new subjects because of his preference for Hanover and the favors he distributed to his German mistresses and advisors.
His inability to speak English obliged him to cede the leadership of the government. Henry Walpole presided over the council of ministers, founding the modern cabinet government and becoming the first Prime Minister.
