George III's father, Prince Frederick, died in 1750 aged 44 from a burst abscess in the lung – commonly attributed to a blow from a cricket or real tennis ball. His eldest son George was 12 at the time, and only 22 when he succeeded to the throne on the death of his grandfather George II. Frederick was a keen cricketer, representing Surrey on several occasions, and a generous patron of the game.
© Haydn Thompson 2017