"He had a very small degree of acquired knowledge; he sometimes read History, and as he had a very good memory, was exceedingly correct in facts, and dates. He spoke French and Italian well, and English very properly, but with something of a foreign accent: He had a contempt for the belles lettres which he called trifling. He troubled himself little about Religion... Upon the whole he was rather a weak than a bad Man or King. His Government was mild as to Prerogative, but burthensome as to taxes, which he raised when, and what degree he pleased, by corrupting the honesty, and not by invading the privileges of Parliaments."
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Lord Chesterfield, 'The Character of King George ye Second', quoted in Colin Franklin, Lord Chesterfield: His Character and 'Characters (1993), pp. 99-100
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_II_of_Great_Britain
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George II of Great Britain
George II (November 10 1683 – October 25 1760) was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Hanover) and a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 (O.S.) until his death in 1760.
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