December 13, 2008:
Dr. Martin Warren: The madness of King Geaorge II

King George III was one of the country's longest serving monarchs who is best remembered for losing the American colonies and for his bouts of madness that triggered the regency crisis in 1789. Did he suffer from manic depressive psychosis or were his bouts of mental incapacity due to an organic illness? Evidence for the latter will be presented, demonstrating that it is likely that the King suffered with a rare metabolic disorder. The nature, symptoms and causes of this inherited illness will be described. By examination of some of the King's hair it has also been shown that he was being accidentally poisoned by his own physicians. The role of science in the emerging discipline of scientific historiography will be discussed.
Martin Warren is professor of biochemistry and a research fellow in the Department of Biosciences at the University of Kent. His research interests are the so-called “pigments of life” that are associated with the colours found in grass and blood.