George was the tenth and youngest son of the Landgrave Charles of Hesse-Kassel (1654-1730) from his marriage to Maria Amalia (1653-1711), the daughter of the Duke Jacob Kettler of Courland.

He received his military training under King Frederick William I of Prussia.

In 1723, he was promoted to lieutenant-general and appointed as governor of Minden.

He was probably very close friends with his elder brother, King Frederick of Sweden and visited him in Stockholm several times.

George Charles died in 1755, unmarried and childless.