George III became king of Great Britain and Ireland in 1760 following George II's death. He worked for an expedited end to the Seven Years' War. Also, during the American Revolution, he was portrayed as an inflexible tyrant who essentially caused the revolution. He was, in name only, the ruler of Great Britain at the time of the War of 1812, although his son, as Prince Regent, was really in control. King George died in 1820. He was the 2nd longest ruler of Great Britain, next to Queen Victoria.