This medal commemorates the coronation of George IV. George was the son of George III. He became Regent in 1811 following the illness of his father. He gained a bad reputation in his youth, gambling wildly, hunting, dancing and marrying, illegally, a Roman Catholic widow, Maria Fitzherbert. Throughout his life George surrounded himself with friends from the theatre, literature and the world of art. In 1785 he commissioned the architect Henry Holland to design the Royal Pavilion at Brighton. The exotic building reflected the Prince's interest in architecture and his taste for 'Oriental' art. It used materials such as bamboo, techniques such as japanning and was full of 'Chinoiserie' decoration. In addition George patronised many contemporary artists throughout his lifetime, including the painters George Romney and Thomas Lawrence.