The locomotives were introduced during July 1910 by Charles Bowen-Cooke following the succession of George V, construction continued until 1915.

They were essentially superheated versions of the LNWR Whale Precursor Class.

At the same time, similar non-superheated Queen Mary Class engines were also built but all of these acquired superheaters as the advantages of superheating became clear and were absorbed into the George the Fifth Class.

All of the Georges passed into London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) ownership on the grouping in 1923.

It was also at this time that a few of the names were removed so that they could be applied to new LMS Jubilee Class engines.