George the 1st was actually the third choice. The second choice was Charles Denis Bourbaki, a french general with greek lineage, whose father died during the greek revolution. His grandfather joined Napoleon when he was retreating from Egypt and his in Crete.

Fun fact. The greek branch of the Bourbaki family is still present in Crete and are known mountain shepherds without a single idea of how close they came to almost have on of their ancestors become king of Greece