Show named lions for or kings during the time of king george il II of england it was customary to name the lions in the tower menagerie after the reigning kings and the fate of the royal beast was thought to be bound up with that of human majesty two years before the death of king george 11 II he suffered a serious illness and was near death but hs he rallied and regained good health A curious circumstance illustrative of popular superstition is mentioned in connection with this illness by lord chesterfield and quoted by earl stanhope in his history of england it was generally thought his majesty would have died and for a very good reason for the oldest lion in the tower much about the kings age died a fortnight ago |