Useful Notes / Georgian Era

Triangle Hat & Powdered Wig - Definitely a Georgian man

The Georgian Era (1714 - 1837) - The Era of wacky wigs, great duels, and revolutions and bloodshed.

Started in 1714 with the death of Queen Anne, the Georgian Era was named after the Hanoverian Kings George I, George II, George III and George IV of England and sometimes includes the short reign of William IV. It was a remarkable era that would see a transformation with industrialism, capitalism, and fashion trends. Compared to the strict and conservative Victorian Era that follows, this era is a time of parties, gambling, duels, and lots of drinking. The Georgian Era is significant for the rise of the modern middle class, for the start of the Industrial Revolution, the rebirth of The British Empire after The American Revolution, and continental Europe's transition from absolute monarchy to republic or constitutional monarchy.

Overlaps with The Enlightenment and Regency England. See The House of Hanover for more details on the monarchs this era is named after.

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Industrial Revolution

The lives of many in Britain, especially in the north and midlands, were transformed by the rapid progress after 1760 of the Industrial Revolution. England was turned into the "workshop of the world" by new technologies like steam power, improved transport networks and enterprising men like the iron-founding Darbys of Iron Bridge, the pottery manufacturer Josiah Wedgwood, and the cotton mill owner Richard Arkwright.

Key to the success of many industries were the new manufactories – or factories – operated by hordes of ill-paid workers, including many women and children. The growth of populations in industrial areas attracted the Methodist preacher John Wesley, whose evangelical take on Christianity had broader appeal than the established Church of England.

Georgian Monarchs

• King George I (1714 - 1727): Did not become King of Great Britain and Ireland until the age of 54, and had possibly less interest in ruling the country than any other actual monarch before or since. Did not speak English, found communication with his British ministers difficult, and generally preferred Hanover to Britain anyway. Therefore, during his reign, Parliament became the dominant body in British government and the first "Prime Minister" (a title not yet in formal existence) emerged, Robert Walpole.
• King George II (1727 - 1760): Perhaps best known for the Jacobite rebellion of 1745 when Bonnie Prince Charlie marched a Scottish army as far as Derby before turning back and being defeated at Culloden. George was also the last British monarch to lead an army in battle (at Dettingen, in 1743), at the age of 60 no less. The song that became the UK's national anthem, 'God Save The King', was written and first performed during George II's reign – and remains used to this day.
• King George III (1760 - 1820): The most famous of the Georgian Kings, who went on to become one of the longest-lived and longest-reigning sovereign in British history . He is known for his role in the American Revolution and for his later struggles with mental illness, which led to a regency being established in his later years.
• King George IV (1820 - 1830): "Took over" ruling as a regent while his dad went insane, though most of the action was done by Parliament, as he was busy partying. He is known for his extravagant lifestyle, including his love of fashion, arts, and entertainment. He also faced controversy due to his unpopular marriage to Caroline of Brunswick and his strained relationship with his father.

Georgian Society

Georgian society was highly stratified, with a small, wealthy elite at the top and the vast majority of people struggling to make a living. The upper class lived in opulent mansions and held extravagant parties, while the lower classes lived in poverty and worked long hours in factories or as laborers. Despite the stark class divide, the Georgian era also saw the emergence of new social movements and ideas, such as the abolition of slavery and the growth of the women's suffrage movement.

The Enclosure Acts were a series of laws passed in England during this time that allowed for the privatization of common lands, which were previously used by small farmers and rural communities. The Acts led to the consolidation of land ownership by wealthy landowners and the displacement of many rural people who were forced to migrate to cities and work in factories.

While the Enclosure Acts did increase agricultural productivity and improve the efficiency of land use, they also had negative social and economic consequences for many people. Enclosure often led to the loss of traditional rights and ways of life, increased poverty and inequality, and the growth of urban slums as people left the countryside in search of work.

Early British Empire

The Georgian era was characterized by the growth of British naval and military power, which allowed the empire to expand its territory and influence around the world. The British Empire gained control of India through a series of military conquests, establishing the East India Company as a dominant economic and political force in the region. The empire also expanded its holdings in Africa, the Caribbean, and North America, while maintaining its control over Australia and New Zealand.

The Seven Years' War was a major global conflict that took place from 1756 to 1763. The war involved multiple European powers, including Great Britain, France, Spain, Austria, and Prussia, and was fought in Europe, North America, the Caribbean, and India.

The war began as a result of territorial disputes between Great Britain and France in North America and India. The French and Indian War, which took place from 1754 to 1763, was the North American theater of the Seven Years' War, and saw Great Britain and its American colonists fighting against France and its Native American allies.

In Europe, the war was fought mainly between Prussia and Austria, with France and other European powers backing Austria. The war saw major battles such as the Battle of Rossbach, the Battle of Leuthen, and the Battle of Minden.

The Seven Years' War was a significant turning point in European history. It marked the rise of Prussia as a major European power, and the decline of France's power and influence on the continent. It also led to significant territorial changes, with Great Britain emerging as the dominant colonial power in North America and India, and Spain ceding Florida to Great Britain.

The war was also significant for its impact on the relationship between Great Britain and its American colonies. The war was costly for Great Britain, and the British government sought to raise revenue from the colonies through measures such as the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, which ultimately led to increased tensions and eventually the American Revolution.

The colonization of Australia by Great Britain began in 1788, when the First Fleet of British ships arrived in what is now Sydney, New South Wales. The colonization was led by Captain Arthur Phillip, who established the first British settlement in Australia.

The British colonization of Australia had a profound impact on the Indigenous Australian populations, who had been living on the continent for tens of thousands of years. The arrival of the British resulted in the forced displacement of Indigenous Australians from their lands and the introduction of diseases to which they had no immunity, leading to significant population declines.

The British established several colonies in Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. These colonies were initially established as penal colonies, with thousands of convicts sent from Britain to Australia as punishment for crimes.

The British also brought with them their culture, institutions, and laws, which had a significant impact on the development of Australia as a nation. They introduced Christianity, established British-style courts and legal systems, and implemented policies and laws that favored British interests over those of the Indigenous Australians.

Famous authors from Georgian Britain include:

• Jane Austen, author of Pride and Prejudice
• Robert Burns
• Lord Byron
• William Blake
• Colley Cibber
• Daniel Defoe
• Henry Fielding
• John Keats
• Alexander Pope
• Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein
• Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels

Works set in the Georgian Era include:

• Anything set in The American Revolution
• Anything set in The French Revolution
• Anything set in during the 1715 or 1745 Jacobite Uprising
• Anything set in during The War of 1812
• Anything set in during The Seven Years' War
• All of the Pirates of the Caribbean films
• Anything that features Giacomo Casanova, Frederick the Great, Francisco de Goya, Catherine the Great, Marie-Antoinette, Louis XVI or Louis XV
• Amadeus : a 1979 stage play about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
• Amazing Grace follows William Wilberforce’s campaign to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire.
• A Royal Affair is about Caroline Matilda’s, George III’s younger sister, unhappy marriage to her cousin Christian VII of Denmark and her affair with the physician Johann Friedrich Struensee.
• Barry Lyndon takes place in the 1750s-1780s.
• Belle (2013): a Biopic about Dido Elizabeth Belle, a black noblewoman living in England.
• Black Sails: a prequel to Treasure Island set in 1715.
• Brotherhood of the Wolf: Loosely based on the real-life Beast of Gévaudan that ravaged the rural region of Gévaudan, France between 1764 and 1767.
• The Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode “Becoming Part 1” and it’s Spin-Off Angel have flashbacks set in this era.
• The 1966 series Dark Shadows and it’s 1991 and 2012 remakes have scenes set this era as Barnabas is from this time period.
• The Doctor Who episode “The Girl in The Fireplace” involves Madame du Pompadour befriending The Doctor. Meanwhile some cyborgs want to use her head for their ship.
• Our Flag Means Death: set in 1717 during The Golden Age of Piracy
• Ghosts (UK): The flashbacks showing Kitty’s life and death in “Something to Share?” and “Pineapple Day” are set in this era. “The Thomas Thorne Affair” has flashbacks that are set in the same era albeit under the Regency as it shows the day Thomas died in 1824.
• Farinelli : a heavily fictionalized biopic of the life of Carlo Broschi, whose stage name was Farinelli, who was a famous castrato during this era. Incidentally, he meets the woman he loves in England.
• Frontier (2016): set in Canada in the latter part of the 18th century, when it was a British colony.
• Harlots takes place in 1760s London. It deals with Margaret Wells’ struggles to raise her daughters in a chaotic household, as well as running a brothel.
• Jack of All Trades: Set in 1801, Jack Stiles, an American secret agent sent to the fictional French-controlled island of Palau-Palau. Once there, he meets his British contact and fellow spy Emilia Rothschild. and together the two work to stop Napoléon Bonaparte and other threats to the United States.
• Let Them Eat Cake is set in France 1782, seven years before the revolution.
• Longitude: The events dealing with John Harrison creating a marine chronometer take place in this era.
• Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: A Truer to the Text adaptation of the novel of the same name set in Switzerland during this time period.
• The Madness of King George deals with the Regency Crisis of 1788–89 as George III is suffering from mental health issues.
• Blackadder The Third takes place during the Regency of George IV, played by Hugh Laurie as an Upper-Class Twit. His butler is Edmund Blackadder, who eventually arranges to Kill and Replace his master. George III also appears in the last episode of the series.
• Pride and Prejudice and its adaptations.
• Any work taking place in The Napoleonic Wars
• Along with the few years before and after the coronation of Queen Victoria, The Young Victoria depicts the last days and death of her uncle and predecessor, William IV (played by Jim Broadbent).
• The Royal Diaries includes the installment Victoria, May Blossom of Hanover, which covers several months of Victoria's youth as princess and heir apparent. George IV, William IV, and Queen Adelaide all appear; so does Victoria's beloved maternal uncle Leopold, who was Happily Married to George IV's only child Charlotte. Charlotte died prior to Victoria's birth, but Victoria frequently mentions her "cousin-aunt" (they were cousins because their fathers were brothers, but Charlotte was also Victoria's aunt by her marriage to Leopold).
• The Little House on the Parries prequels The Martha Years and The Charlotte Years takes place in late 18th century Scotland and early 19th century America.
• The String of Pearls, which features the demon barber Sweeney Todd, is set in 1785.
• The novel Moonfleet by J. Meade Falkner is an adventure tale that involves smuggling, treasure, and shipwreck set in Dorset during this era.
• The Road by Nigel Kneale deals with a village during this time period, trying to understand the reason behind the strange haunting that affects the titular road into their village. When finally heard, it's clear to the audience but not the characters that the haunting is not from the past, but the future - the death agonies of a city about to be struck by a nuclear weapon. Sadly, only the script survives
• Squire Haggard's Journal begins in 1777.
• Any adaptation of Treasure Island
• Bridgerton and it’s prequel Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is set in a far more racially diverse Alternate Universe version of England during the Regency and the broader Georgian era.
• Quills is about the later years of the Marquisde Sade who is incarcerated at Charenton.