George I of England (Pox)

George I of England was King of England and Ireland from December 14, 1595 to December 30, 1604. George was son of Francis Hastings, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon and Catherine Pole.

George and his family would come to power following his brother Henry's accession as King of England, following the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1562. George would serve as one of Henry's most loyal ministers, but was often left in the shadow of his politically gifted brother Francis.

George would spend most of his career managing the family's home county of Leicestershire, but did serving as the president of the Council of the North.

George's oldest son Prince Francis would be his brother's chosen successor to the throne of England, but would die 3 only days following King Henry IX. Henry had hoped to marry Francis to a member of another royal family to forge a political alliance, but George supported Francis desire to marry a Lady Sarah Harington. Some historians believe it was actually James Harington, who had convinced George that the marriage would strength English control of the royal line, instead of risk the nation falling under foreign influence.

George's reign as king would only lasted 9 years, and is often forgotten due to the fame of his brother and grandson. George is considered by many historians as a mediocre king who may have not wanted to become king in the first place. Yet under his reign he ending English involvement in the French Wars of Religion, and brokered a peace with Spain ending the Anglo-Spanish War. George also eased the anti-Catholic laws which had been practiced under his brother.