George IV of the United Kingdom George IV (George Augustus Frederick; 12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from the death of his father, King George III, on 29 January 1820, until his own death ten y ...

has been depicted many times in popular culture.

Literature

*George IV appears as a character in ''

Rodney Stone ''Rodney Stone'' is a Gothic fiction, Gothic mystery and boxing novel in Scotland, novel by Scottish writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first published in 1896. The eponymous narrator is a Sussex country boy who is the son of a sailor and wishes to ...

'' by

Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for ''A Study in Scarlet'', the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Ho ...

(1896), where he is shown as an irresponsible spendthrift, wildly self-indulgent and given to self-delusion, but not without some kindly impulses. *In Bernard Cornwell's novel ''

Sharpe's Regiment ''Sharpe's Regiment'' is the seventeenth historical novel in the Sharpe (novel series), Richard Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell, first published in 1986. The story is set in England as Sharpe looks for the missing Second Battalion of the Sout ...

'', which is set during the Regency period, he is portrayed as fat, extravagant and possibly suffering from the same insanity which had afflicted his father. He is an enthusiastic fan of Richard Sharpe's military exploits, and claims to have been present at the Battle of Talavera and to have helped Sharpe capture a French Imperial Eagle (an event depicted in Cornwell's earlier novel ''

Sharpe's Eagle ''Sharpe's Eagle'' is a historical novel in the Richard Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell, first published in 1981. The story is set in July 1809, in the midst of the Talavera Campaign during the Peninsular War. It was the first Sharpe novel ...

''). In the novel's afterword, Cornwell said he based the remark on an historical incident when George, during a dinner party at which the Duke of Wellington was present, claimed to have led a charge at the Battle of Waterloo.According to ''The private letters of Princess Lieven to Prince Metternich, 1820–1826'' edited by Quennell (1937) the King merely pretended to have fought at Waterloo disguised as General Bock to annoy the Duke of Wellington. *George IV appears as a character in ''The Regency'', Volume 13 of ''

The Morland Dynasty ''The Morland Dynasty'' is a series of historical novels by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, in the genre of a family saga. They recount the lives of the Morland family of York, England and their national and international relatives and associates. There a ...

'', a series of historical novels by author

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (born 13 August 1948) is a British writer of romance and mystery novels. She normally writes under her own name but also uses the pseudonyms Emma Woodhouse and Elizabeth Bennett. Cynthia was born on 13 August 1948 at Shepher ...

. The fictional Lucy Morland, Countess of Aylesbury, is one of his 'set' and his reign and regency provide the backdrop to the novel. * Bernard Bastable's ''Dead, Mr. Mozart'' (1995) is a detective novel whose main character is an alternate version of Wolfgang Mozart who survives in the 1820s and has settled in England. The story's main crisis is that odd circumstances have drawn Mozart into damage control duty to prevent further eruption of the enmity between King George IV and Caroline of Brunswick immediately following the old king's death.

Film

On screen, George IV has been portrayed by: * Charles Chapman in the silent short ''

Beau Brummel George Bryan "Beau" Brummell (7 June 1778 – 30 March 1840) was an important figure in Regency England and, for many years, the arbiter of men's fashion. At one time, he was a close friend of the Prince Regent, the future King George IV, but ...

'' (1913), based on the novel by

Booth Tarkington Newton Booth Tarkington (July 29, 1869 – May 19, 1946) was an American novelist and dramatist best known for his novels ''The Magnificent Ambersons'' (1918) and '' Alice Adams'' (1921). He is one of only four novelists to win the Pulitze ...

Teddy Arundell Teddy Arundell (1873 in Devon – 5 November 1922, in London) was a British film actor of the silent era. Selected filmography * ''The Lyons Mail'' (1916) * ''Justice'' (1917) * ''Nelson'' (1918) * '' The Swindler'' (1918) * ''The Splendid Cowar ...

in the silent film ''The Romance of Lady Hamilton'' (1919) *

Alfred Paumier Alfred may refer to: Arts and entertainment *''Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series *Alfred (Arne opera), ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne *Alfred (Dvořák), ''Alfred'' (Dvořák), an 1870 opera ...

in the silent film ''

The Amateur Gentleman ''The Amateur Gentleman'' is a novel by Jeffery Farnol, published in 1913. It was made into a silent film in 1920 and again in 1926 and a talking film in 1936 with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. starring as the protagonist, Barnabas Barty. Plot summ ...

'' (1920), based on the

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

Jeffery Farnol Jeffery Farnol (10 February 1878 – 9 August 1952) was a British writer from 1907 until his death in 1952, known for writing more than 40 romance novels, often set in the Georgian Era The Georgian era was a period in British history from 1 ...

Bellenden Powell Bellenden is a surname, Scottish in origins and an older form of Ballantine/Ballantyne. It may refer to: *John Bellenden, Scottish writer *John Bellenden (Lord Justice Clerk) *Katherine Bellenden, Scottish courtier *William Bellenden, Scottish cla ...

in the silent film ''

A Prince of Lovers ''A Prince of Lovers'' is a 1922 British silent film, silent biographical film directed by Charles Calvert (director), Charles Calvert and starring Howard Gaye, Marjorie Hume and Mary Clare. The film portrays the life of the British writer Lord ...

'' (1921), based on the play by

Alicia Ramsey Alicia Ramsey (1864–1933) was a British playwright and screenwriter. She was born Alice Joanna Royston. Life Alice Joanna Royston was born in Chelsea, London, Chelsea, the daughter of William Hayelett Royston, gentleman.Register of Marriages ...

Holmes Herbert Holmes Herbert (born Horace Edward Jenner; 30 July 1882 – 26 December 1956) was an English character actor who appeared in Hollywood films from 1915 to 1952, often as a British gentleman. Early life Born Horace Edward Jenner, (some sou ...

in the silent film '' A Stage Romance'' (1922), based on the play ''Kean'' by

Alexandre Dumas, père Alexandre Dumas (, ; ; born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie (), 24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870), also known as Alexandre Dumas père (where ''Suffix (name)#Generational titles, '' is French language, French for 'father', to distinguish him from ...

Willard Louis Willard Louis (April 19, 1882 – July 22, 1926) was an American stage and film actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1911 and 1926. He was born in San Francisco, California. Louis had an art studio before he be ...

in the silent film ''

'' (1924), based on the play by Clyde Fitch *

Otto Dethlefsen Otto is a masculine German given name and a Otto (surname), surname. It originates as an Old High German short form (variants ''Audo'', ''Odo'', ''Udo'') of Germanic names beginning in ''aud-'', an element meaning "wealth, prosperity". The name ...

in the French silent film ''Kean'', based on the Alexandre Dumas play * Gino Corrado in the silent film ''The Amateur Gentleman'' (1926), also based on the novel by Jeffery Farnol * Lumsden Hare in '' The House of Rothschild'' (1934), based on the play ''Rothschild'' by

George Hembert Westley George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presiden ...

* Nigel Bruce in '' The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934), based on the plays by Baroness Orczy and

Montagu Barstow Montagu may refer to: * Montagu (surname) Titles of nobility * Duke of Montagu * Marquess of Montagu ** John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu (c. 1431 – 1471), Yorkist leader in the Wars of the Roses * Baron Montagu of Beaulieu * Baron Mon ...

* Olaf Hytten in ''

Becky Sharp Rebecca "Becky" Sharp, later describing herself as Rebecca, Lady Crawley, is the main protagonist of William Makepeace Thackeray's 1847–48 novel '' Vanity Fair''. She is presented as a cynical social climber who uses her charms to fascinate a ...

'' (1935), based on the play by

Langdon Mitchell Langdon Elwyn Mitchell (February 17, 1862 – October 21, 1935) was an American playwright popular on Broadway in the early twentieth century. He was the son of a noted writer and neurologist, Silas Weir Mitchell (physician), S. Weir Mitchell ( ...

, itself based on the novel '' Vanity Fair'' by William Makepeace Thackeray *

Gilbert Davis Gilbert may refer to: People and fictional characters *Gilbert (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Gilbert (surname), including a list of people Places Australia * Gilbert River (Queensland) * Gilbert River (South A ...

in ''

'' (1936) *

Hugh Huntley Hugh may refer to: *Hugh (given name) Noblemen and clergy French * Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks * Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II * Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day ...

in '' Lloyd's of London'' (1936)
Evelyn Roberts
in '' Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1937) * Raymond Lovell in '' The Man in Grey'' (1943), based on the novel by

Lady Eleanor Smith Lady Eleanor Furneaux Smith (7 August 1902 – 20 October 1945) was an English writer and active member of the Bright Young Things. Life Born in Birkenhead, England in 1902, Smith was the eldest child of the politician F. E. Smith's three ...

Michael Dyne Michael Bradley Dyne (August 19, 1918 – May 17, 1989) was a British-American television and film screenwriter. He was also an actor, and wrote one stage play. Dyne was the son of sculptor Musgrave Bradley Dyne. He was born in London, educated i ...

in '' Kitty'' (1945), based on the novel by

Rosamond Marshall Rosamond Marshall (October 17, 1902 – November 13, 1957) was an American novelist.http://www.authorandbookinfo.com/ngcoba/ma3.htm, New General Catalog of Old Books and Authors, Retrieved August 27, 2010. She wrote historical romances for adult ...

* Peter Graves in
The Laughing Lady
' (1946), based on the play b
Ingram D'Abbes
and ''

Mrs. Fitzherbert Maria Anne Fitzherbert (''née'' Smythe, previously Weld; 26 July 1756 – 27 March 1837) was a longtime companion of George, Prince of Wales (later King George IV of the United Kingdom). In 1785, they secretly contracted a marriage that was i ...

'' (1947), based on the novel b
Winifred Carter
*

Cecil Parker Cecil Parker (born Cecil Schwabe, 3 September 1897 – 20 April 1971) was an English actor with a distinctively husky voice, who usually played supporting roles, often characters with a supercilious demeanour, in his 91 films made between ...

in ''

The First Gentleman ''The First Gentleman'' is a 1948 British historical drama film directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, and starring Jean-Pierre Aumont, Joan Hopkins, and Cecil Parker. It portrays the relationships and marriage of George, Prince Regent and his tense de ...

'' (1948), based on the play by

Norman Ginsbury Norman Ginsbury (1902–1991) was a British writer, known for his plays. He also wrote material for film and television. His 1935 play ''Viceroy Sarah'' about Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, ran for 157 performances in the West End. The ...

* Jack Hawkins in '' The Elusive Pimpernel'' (1950) *

Peter Ustinov Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov (born Peter Alexander Freiherr von Ustinov ; 16 April 192128 March 2004) was a British actor, filmmaker and writer. An internationally known raconteur, he was a fixture on television talk shows and lecture circuits ...

in ''

Beau Brummell George Bryan "Beau" Brummell (7 June 1778 – 30 March 1840) was an important figure in Regency England and, for many years, the arbiter of men's fashion. At one time, he was a close friend of the Prince Regent, the future King George IV, but ...

'' (1954), based on a play by Clyde Fitch * Roy Kinnear in the musical comedy '' On a Clear Day You Can See Forever'' (1970), based on the musical by

Alan Jay Lerner Alan Jay Lerner (August 31, 1918 – June 14, 1986) was an American lyricist and librettist. In collaboration with Frederick Loewe, and later Burton Lane, he created some of the world's most popular and enduring works of musical theatre bot ...

and

Burton Lane Burton Lane ( Levy; February 2, 1912 – January 5, 1997) was an American composer and lyricist primarily known for his theatre and film scores. His most popular and successful works include '' Finian's Rainbow'' in 1947 and ''On a Clear Day You ...

Ralph Richardson Sir Ralph David Richardson (19 December 1902 – 10 October 1983) was an English actor who, with John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier, was one of the trinity of male actors who dominated the British stage for much of the 20th century. He wo ...

in '' Lady Caroline Lamb'' (1972) *

John Sessions John Marshall (11 January 1953 – 2 November 2020), better known by the stage name John Sessions, was a British actor and comedian. He was known for comedy improvisation in television shows such as ''Whose Line Is It Anyway?'', as a panellist o ...

in '' Princess Caraboo'' (1994) * Rupert Everett in '' The Madness of King George'' (1994), based on the play ''The Madness of George III'' * James Saxon in ''Poldark'' (1996) * Richard McCabe, billed as "The King" in '' Vanity Fair'' (2004) * Tim McInnerny in ''

Peterloo The Peterloo Massacre took place at St Peter's Field, Manchester, Lancashire, England, on Monday 16 August 1819. Fifteen people died when cavalry charged into a crowd of around 60,000 people who had gathered to demand the reform of parliamen ...

'' (2018)

Television

On television, George IV has been played by: *

Robert Stephens Sir Robert Graham Stephens (14 July 193112 November 1995) was a leading English actor in the early years of Britain's Royal National Theatre. He was one of the most respected actors of his generation and was at one time regarded as the natur ...

in the BBC Play of the Month ''Kean'' (1978), based on the play by Jean-Paul Sartre about the actor Edmund Kean * Peter Egan in the BBC drama series ''Prince Regent'' (1979), covering his life until his ascent to the throne *

Julian Fellowes Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, (born 17 August 1949) is an English actor, novelist, film director and screenwriter, and a Conservative peer of the House of Lords. He is primarily known as the author of s ...

in the British dramas '' The Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1982) and ''

'' (1996), the latter based on the novel by Bernard Cornwell * David King in the episode of the Yorkshire Television drama series ''Number 10'' entitled "The Iron Duke" (1983) * Roy Dotrice in the miniseries '' Shaka Zulu'' (1986), based on the novel by

Joshua Sinclair Joshua Sinclair (born May 7, 1953) is an American writer, producer, actor and director born in New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populou ...

* Peter Schofield in the BBC series '' Vanity Fair'' (1987) * Hugh Laurie in the BBC TV comedy series '' Blackadder the Third'' (1987), in which his absurd lifestyle as Prince Regent is the focus of much malice by other characters, particular his butler Mr. Edmund Blackadder (

Rowan Atkinson Rowan Sebastian Atkinson (born 6 January 1955) is an English actor, comedian and writer. He played the title roles on the sitcoms '' Blackadder'' (1983–1989) and ''Mr. Bean'' (1990–1995), and the film series ''Johnny English'' (2003–201 ...

), who repeatedly makes sarcastic references to the Prince's stupidity and incompetence and takes advantage of it. The concluding episode of the series depicts the Prince being unwittingly gunned down by the Duke of Wellington ( Stephen Fry), and Blackadder assuming his identity, eventually becoming George IV. * James Saxon in the Yorkshire Television sitcom ''

Haggard Haggard may refer to an adjective reflecting exhaustion or poverty. Haggard may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Haggard (band), a German symphonic metal group * ''Haggard'' (TV series), a British comedy television series * '' Ha ...

'' (1990) and the British drama '' Poldark'' (1996), based on the novels by Winston Graham *

Richard E. Grant Richard E. Grant (born Richard Grant Esterhuysen; 5 May 1957) is a Swazi-English actor and presenter. He made his film debut as Withnail in the comedy ''Withnail and I'' (1987). Grant received critical acclaim for his role as Jack Hock in Marie ...

in the 1996 BBC

docudrama Docudrama (or documentary drama) is a genre of television and film, which features dramatized re-enactments of actual events. It is described as a hybrid of documentary and drama and "a fact-based representation of real event". Docudramas typic ...

'' A Royal Scandal'' * Roger Ashton-Griffiths in the drama series '' Vanity Fair'' (1998) * Jonathan Coy in the British drama series '' The Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1999) * Hugh Bonneville in the British drama '' Beau Brummell: This Charming Man'' (2006), based on the biography by Ian Kelly * Jim Howick in the British TV comedy series ''Horrible Histories'' (2009–present) * Mark Gatiss in the British TV Drama '' Taboo'' (2017)

Radio

* Mark Perry in ''

Bleak Expectations ''Bleak Expectations'' is a BBC Radio 4 comedy series that premiered in August 2007. It is a pastiche of the works of Charles Dickens – such as ''Bleak House'' and ''Great Expectations'', from which it derives its name – as well as adventure ...

'' (2007) * Alex Jennings in '' The People’s Princess'' (2008)

Footnotes

{{DEFAULTSORT:George 04 Of The United Kingdom, Cultural Depictions Of