Room 11
Britain in the early 18th Century

At the death of Queen Anne in 1714, the Crown passed away from the Stuarts to George I who was the great-grandson of James I. As a Protestant, George became King under the terms of the Act of Settlement (1701) which excluded Roman Catholics from succeeding to the British throne. At the same time, George I was also Elector of Hanover Ð one of the princes who elected the German King who was then crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope.

Both George I and his son, George II, were German speakers and spent much of their time in Hanover. Though not personally popular, they were seen as guaranteeing the powers of Parliament and also a Protestant succession to the throne. Their reigns, from 1714 to 1760, saw Britain grow in wealth and power at home and overseas. The family tree below shows the five successive Kings of Britain who were members of the House of Hanover.

The displays in this room divide into three themes: Religion, Politics and Society and The Jacobites.

Portraits on display

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All images and text are subject to copyright protection. 04 December 2008