[MUSGRAVE. _Antiquitates Britanno-Belgicae._ Exeter, 1719.] George, Electoral Prince of Hanover, afterwards Prince of Wales (born 30th October 1683, died 25th October 1760), was the only son of George I., and succeeded his father on the throne of England in 1727. In 1753 an Act was passed "For the purchase of the Museum or Collection of Sir Hans Sloane and of the Harleian Collection of MSS.; and for providing one General Repository for the better reception and more convenient use of the said Collections, and of the Cottonian Library." In 1757 King George II. added to these "Foundation Libraries" of the British Museum, the old Royal Library of England, which had been largely brought together by Henry, Prince of Wales. The old Royal Library underwent several vicissitudes after the death of Prince Henry. It was kept at St. James's Palace. When it was at length incorporated with the Sloane and Cotton collections it numbered altogether about fifteen thousand volumes, manuscripts, and printed books. On 2nd September 1705, Prince George, then Electoral Prince of Hanover, married Wilhelmina Caroline (born 1st March 1683, died 20th November 1737), the eldest daughter of John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Anspach. Queen Caroline made herself as important in Court and political affairs as she had already done as Princess, and allied herself strongly with Sir Robert Walpole, then Minister of State, and her power became very great, as the King gave way to her wishes almost invariably. Both George II. and Queen Caroline disliked their eldest son Frederick. During the King's several absences in Hanover, Queen Caroline acted as Regent, to the great annoyance of the Prince of Wales. [Illustration] GEORGE III., KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRELAND, AFTERWARDS KING OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, AFTERWARDS KING OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. _First Coat-of-Arms_ _Arms._--Within the Garter. Quarterly. 1st, England and Scotland impaled. 2nd, France. 3rd, Ireland. 4th, The arms of the Royal Dominions in Germany; all as used by George I. (q.v.). _Crest._--A royal crown ppr., thereon a lion statant guardant or, crowned ppr. _Supporters._--The lion and the unicorn, as used by James I. (q.v.). _Motto._--DIEU ET MON DROIT. _Badges._--A rose for England and a thistle for Scotland. _Note._--Used from 24th October 1760 until 1st January 1801. [VITRUVIUS POLLIO. _Architecture._ London, 1791.] [Illustration] _First Coat-of-Arms_ _Variety._--With supporters bearing the standards of St. George and St. Andrew. Probably a foreign design. [SECONDAT. _Le Temple de Guide_. Parisiis, 1772.] [Illustration] _First Coat-of-Arms_