Editing George II of Great Britain (section)

===War and rebellion===
{{further|Jacobite rising of 1745}}
{{further|War of the Austrian Succession}}
Against Walpole's wishes, but to George's delight, Britain reopened hostilities with Spain in 1739.<ref>Trench, pp. 205–206.</ref> Britain's conflict with Spain, the [[War of Jenkins' Ear]], became part of the [[War of the Austrian Succession]] when a major European dispute broke out upon the death of [[Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI]] in 1740. At issue was the right of Charles's daughter, [[Maria Theresa]], to succeed to his Austrian dominions.<ref>Trench, p. 210.</ref> George spent the summers of 1740 and 1741 in Hanover, where he was more able to intervene directly in European diplomatic affairs in his capacity as elector.<ref>Thompson, pp. 133, 139.</ref>

Prince Frederick campaigned actively for the opposition in the [[1741 British general election]], and Walpole was unable to secure a stable majority. Walpole attempted to buy off the prince with the promise of an increased allowance and offered to pay off his debts, but Frederick refused.<ref>Black, ''George II'', p. 174; Trench, p. 212.</ref> With his support eroded, Walpole retired in 1742 after over 20 years in office. He was replaced by [[Spencer Compton, Lord Wilmington]], whom George had originally considered for the premiership in 1727. Wilmington, however, was a figurehead;<ref>Black, ''George II'', p. 86.</ref> actual power was held by others, such as [[Lord Carteret]], George's favourite minister after Walpole.<ref name=cannon/> When Wilmington died in 1743, [[Henry Pelham]] took his place at the head of the government.<ref>Thompson, p. 150.</ref>
[[File:GeorgeIIWootton1743.jpg|thumb|right|alt=George on a white horse|Depicted at the [[Battle of Dettingen]] in 1743 by [[John Wootton]]]]
[[File:george2coin.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Coin showing George facing left|[[Half crown (British coin)|Half-crown]] of George II, 1746. The inscription reads GEORGIUS II DEI GRATIA (George II by the Grace of God). The word LIMA under the King's head signifies that the coin was struck from silver seized from the [[Spanish treasure fleet]] off [[Lima]], Peru, during the [[War of the Austrian Succession]].<ref>[https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/cm/s/silver_lima_crown_5_shillings.aspx "Silver 'Lima' crown (5 shillings) of George II"], [[British Museum]], retrieved 26 August 2011 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429230829/https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/cm/s/silver_lima_crown_5_shillings.aspx |date=29 April 2011 |title=Archive }}</ref>]]
The pro-war faction was led by Carteret, who claimed that French power would increase if Maria Theresa failed to succeed to the Austrian throne. George agreed to send 12,000 hired Hessian and Danish mercenaries to Europe, ostensibly to support Maria Theresa. Without conferring with his British ministers, George stationed them in Hanover to prevent enemy French troops from marching into the electorate.<ref>Trench, pp. 211–212.</ref> The British army had not fought in a major European war in over 20 years, and the government had badly neglected its upkeep.<ref>Trench, pp. 206–209.</ref> George had pushed for greater professionalism in the ranks, and promotion by merit rather than by [[sale of commissions]], but without much success.<ref>Black, ''George II'', p. 111; Trench, pp. 136, 208; Van der Kiste, p. 173.</ref> An allied force of Austrian, British, Dutch, Hanoverian and Hessian troops engaged the French at the [[Battle of Dettingen]] on 16/27 June 1743. George personally accompanied them, leading them to victory, thus becoming the last British monarch to lead troops into battle.<ref>Thompson, p. 148; Trench, pp. 217–223.</ref> Though his actions in the battle were admired, the war became unpopular with the British public, who felt that the King and Carteret were subordinating British interests to Hanoverian ones.<ref>Black, ''George II'', pp. 181–184; Van der Kiste, pp. 179–180.</ref> Carteret lost support, and to George's dismay resigned in 1744.<ref>Black, ''George II'', pp. 185–186; Thompson, p. 160; Van der Kiste, p. 181.</ref>

Tension grew between the Pelham ministry and George, as he continued to take advice from Carteret and rejected pressure from his other ministers to include [[William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham|William Pitt the Elder]] in the Cabinet, which would have broadened the government's support base.<ref>Black, ''George II'', pp. 190–193; Thompson, pp. 162, 169; Trench, pp. 234–235.</ref> The King disliked Pitt because he had previously opposed government policy and attacked measures seen as pro-Hanoverian.<ref>Black, ''George II'', pp. 164, 184, 195.</ref> In February 1746, Pelham and his followers resigned. George asked [[William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath|Lord Bath]] and Carteret to [[Short-lived ministry|form an administration]], but after less than 48 hours they returned the seals of office, unable to secure sufficient parliamentary support. Pelham returned to office triumphant, and George was forced to appoint Pitt to the ministry.<ref>Black, ''George II'', pp. 190–193; Cannon; Trench, pp. 234–235.</ref>

George's French opponents encouraged [[Jacobite uprising|rebellion by the Jacobites]], the supporters of the Roman Catholic claimant to the British throne, [[James Francis Edward Stuart]], often known as the Old Pretender. Stuart was the son of [[James II of England|James II]], who had been deposed in 1688 and replaced by his Protestant relations. Two prior rebellions in [[Jacobite rising of 1715|1715]] and [[Jacobite rising of 1719|1719]] had failed. In July 1745, the Old Pretender's son, [[Charles Edward Stuart]], popularly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or the Young Pretender, landed in Scotland, where support for his cause was highest. George, who was summering in Hanover, returned to London at the end of August.<ref>Van der Kiste, p. 184.</ref> The Jacobites defeated British forces in September at the [[Battle of Prestonpans]], and then moved south into England. The Jacobites failed to gain further support, and the French reneged on a promise of help. Losing morale, the Jacobites retreated back into Scotland.<ref>Black, ''George II'', pp. 190–191.</ref> On 16/27 April 1746, Charles faced George's military-minded son Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, in the [[Battle of Culloden]], the last pitched battle fought on British soil. The ravaged Jacobite troops were routed by the government army. Charles escaped to France, but many of his supporters were caught and executed. Jacobitism was all but crushed; no further serious attempt was made at restoring the [[House of Stuart]].<ref>Van der Kiste, pp. 186–187.</ref> The War of the Austrian Succession continued until 1748, when Maria Theresa was recognized as Archduchess of Austria. The peace was celebrated by a fête in [[Green Park, London]], for which Handel composed ''[[Music for the Royal Fireworks]]''.<ref>Thompson, pp. 187–189.</ref>