King George III is still a popular figure in Weymouth, the English Channel resort hosting Olympic sailing.

Seems that the monarch, best known in the United States for losing the American colonies, helped put Weymouth on the map with his summer visits from 1789 to 1805 for therapeutic saltwater dips.

There's a statue of the monarch on one end of the Esplanade, the walkway and road that run parallel to the beach. The inscription reads: "The grateful inhabitants to George The Third on his entering the 50th year of his reign."

A more interesting image of the king is called the Osmington White Horse. Carved into a chalk cliff outside of town, the giant image shows the king riding a horse. It can be seen for miles, including from the sailing courses on Weymouth Bay.

Legend has it that despite the carving being intended as a compliment, the king was offended because it showed him riding away from town, and he never returned.

— Bernie Wilson — Twitter http://twitter.com/berniewilson

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