George III and the Law of Nations: A Lecture by David Armitage (Harvard University, 2020 Sons of the American Revolution Visiting Professor at King’s College London
This lecture examines how George III, from his early years as Prince of Wales in the 1750s through to the twilight of his active rulership in the early nineteenth century, was educated in constitutionalism and the law of nations, how he gathered and processed information about imperial and international affairs, and how this constitutional and juridical knowledge shaped his understanding of international relations, the American Revolution, and the abolition of slavery, among other pressing contemporary questions. From an examination of the Georgian Papers at Windsor Castle and the King’s Library at the British Library, a new picture emerges of George III as an unusually thoughtful, engaged, and at times surprisingly radical student of Montesquieu and Blackstone, and hence as a modernising monarch uniquely well equipped to reflect on the changing nature of sovereignty in an age of revolutions.
The lecture will be followed by a reception to which all are welcome. Admission free, but registration on Eventbrite required. To register, follow this link: https://bit.ly/38YLdxi
Location: Bush House Lecture Theatre 1, King’s College London. 30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG