The Royal Malady of King George III | From the Stacks

[@damonroberts7372]

Because of George III's remission from porphyria in 1789, female prisoners of the Crown then awaiting execution had their sentences commuted to penal transportation to Australia. That included two fourteen year old girls, Mary Wade and Jane Whiting, who had been sentenced to hang on a trumped-up charge of "highway robbery". Mary Wade has literally _tens of thousands_ of descendants now, including one of Australia's former Prime Ministers. Some of the pivots of history are truly bizarre.

[@ilhuicatlamatini]

I had no idea the “illness receded” ! I’ll be googling this story for more information lol, thanks 🤴

[@lezafullerton5941]

The poor King of Prussia mistaken for a tree lol

[@joannawarrens5117]

Wait the illness receded? That’s weird. Poison, virus????

[@damonroberts7372]

Remission from porphyria.

[@joannawarrens5117]

@@damonroberts7372 oh. Thanks!

[@mamatulie6591]

The illness came back. There was a regency for the last 10 years of his reign.

[@Lucius1958]

Yes: Byron wrote in 1819: *"An old, mad, blind, despised and dying King..."*

[@megthomas580]

@@Lucius1958 I definitely wouldn’t say he was despised. Certainly not in Britain.

[@southerncharm8211]

The Madness of King George is s one of my favorite movies for a long time now. Pretty much completely inaccurate historically speaking, it's still entertaining.

[@phinhnanthasone1231]

Since Elizabeth II was loved by most, nobody tried to smear her in such a way (I believe)

[@themcgeefamily7514]

💙💚