PRIME MINISTERS IN THE 18TH CENTURY ( FROM 1721 TO 1765)
Sir Robert Walpole 1721-42 (Whig)
FACT FILE Full Name: Robert Walpole. Born: 26th August in Houghton, Norfolk. Education: Eton and Cambridge. Familiy: He was the fifth born of 17 children. He was married twice and he had three sons. Interests: Collecting paintings, brewing beer, hunting and beagling. Died: 18th March 1745 in Arlington Street, London.
BIOGRAPHY Robert Walpole, today regarded as the first British Prime Minister, was born in Norfolk in 1676. Walpole was educated at Eton and Cambridge, and was the first to live and work in 10 Downing street. In 1701 Walpole became the whig member of Parliament for Castle Rising, Norfolk. There was a setback in 1712 and he was accused of accepting an illegal payment as Secretary of War. He was found guilty and spent six months imprisoned in the Tower of London. Walpole was appointed as Chancelor of the Exchequer and first Lord the Treasury for a second time. He was successful, neutralising dangerous opponents, reducing the national debt and stabilising prices and wages. In 1739 Walpole’s poor performance in a war against Spain reduced confidence in his ability to carry out his duties. He was forced to resign as Prime minister in 1742, and he was elevated to the House of Lords. Walpole died in London in 1745.
Sources: Biography Image
Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington 1742-3 (Whig)
FACT FILE Full Name: Spencer Compton. Born: 1673 in Compton Wynyates, Warwckshire. Maiden speech: His first recorded speech in the House of Commons was on 17 March 1715 on being chosen speaker. Education: St Paul’s School, Westminster and Trinity College, Oxford. Family: Wilmington was the third son and the youngest of five children. He had a half-sister from his father’s first marriage. He was unmarried. Interests: Good food, exotic plants and coin collecting. Died: 2 July 1743 at St. James’ Square, London.
Biography Compton, the third child of 3rd Earl of Northampton, was educated in St Paul and University of Trinidad, Oxford. He was in the House of Commons for the first time in 1698. Although his family were high Tories, he turned to the Whigs after an argument with his brother, 4th Earl of Northampton. In 1716 he became a member of the Council of State. In the parliament he stood out among the Whigs. He succeeded Walpole in 1742. He was indecisive and a poor leader. His brief office was dominated by foreign affairs.He chose to keep Britain in the War of the Austrian Succession, fighting the forces of Prusia, France and Spain. Wilmington died in office in 1743, only a year and a half into his term.
Sources: Biography Image
Henry Pelham 1743-54 (Whig)
FACT FILE
Full Name: Henry Pelham. Born: 25 September 1694 in Laughton, Sussex. Died: 6 March 1754 in Arlington St, London. Education: Westminster School and Hart Hall, Oxford. Family: Henry Pelham was the third son and ninth of 11 children. He was married to Lady Catherine Manners and had two sons and six daughters.
BIOGRAPHY Henry Pelham was a prime minister during ten years and he dealt with loyal tasks. In his family there were a lot of politicians. His father, for example, was a long-serving MP, his brother was the Duke of NewCastle, etc. Pelham was a Lord of the Treasury under Walpole and was a very good friend of him. George II didn´t like Pelham as Walpole did and wanted to replace him with the Earl of Granville, who wasn´t loved by anyone. He succeeded at the end of the Austrian succession war, in 1748 and he got peace with France and trade with Spain. He also established the legislation of the British Museum.
Sources: Biography Image
Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle 1754-6, 1757-62 (Whig)
FACT FILE Full name: Thomas Pelham-Holles. Born: 21 July 1693 in London. Family: Thomas Pelham had two brothers and was the eighth of 11 children. He married Lady Henrietta Godolphin.They had no children. Interests: Music, writing poetry, gardening, food and drink. Education: Westminster School and Clare Hall, Cambridge. Maiden speech: His first recorded speech in the House of Commons was on 14 April 1716 in favour of the Septennial Hill. Died: 17 Novembre 1768 in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London.
Biography
Thomas Pelham, Duke of Newcastle, is best known for leading Britain into the Seven Years War, a long military conflict with France which drained the nation and led it to its own downfall. Newcastle came from a wealthy aristocratic family with strong political beliefs. He was tall for the time, had a high forehead, dark grey eyes and hooked nose. It is said he was hyperchondriac, worrying constantly about his health. He was part of Walpole’s inner group from 1722, and his power grew as Walpole’s declined. He championed Britain’s entry into the war of the Austrian succession in 1741, despite Walpole’s opposition. When Pelham died in 1754, Newcastle succeeded his brother as Prime Minister. Sources: Biography Image
William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire 1756-7 (Whig)
FACT FILE Born: 1720 First entered Parliament: 19 May 1741 Total time as PM: 225 days Education: It is assumed that Cavendish had private tuition Family: Devonshire was the eldest son and second of seven children. He was married to Charlotte Elizabeth Boyle, Baroness Clifford, and had three sons and one daughter Interests: Horse racing (he was one of the founders of the Jockey Club) Died: 2 October 1764 at Spa, Germany
Biography
William Cavendish was one of the Great Britain Prime Ministers of the XVIII century, and he wasn't a good one. He didn't want to be Prime Minister of Great Britain, so George II had to work really hard to make Cavendhis accept the position. In fact, the Duke of Devonshire didn't want political power, that's why he was dominated by Pitt the Elder in his role of Secretary of State. The main achievements he got were the court martialling of a navy admiral for his failure to relieve Minorca, and a dispute with the Duke of Cumberland over the defence of Hanover (the Cavendish family helped to stablish the House of Hanover in the British throne). A notorius quote he said was: -"Every King must make use of human means to attain human ends or his affairs will go to ruin" William Cavendish resigned his Prime Minister position after a lacklustre seven months, and in 1764 he died in Germany, being the youngest British Prime Minister dead (at 44 years old). Sources: Biography Image
John Stuart, Earl of Bute 1762-3 (Tory)
FACT FILE Full name: John Stuart. Earl of Bute Born: 25 May 1713 in Parliament Square, Edinburgh Early life: took seat in house of Lords on 24 January 1738 Maiden speech: on 19 January 1762 on the war with Spain Died: 10 March 1792 in Grosuenor square, London
BIOGRAPHY Bute succeeded the Duke of Newcastle as Prime Minister. He was Minister of State and Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1762 to 1763, he was a descendant of the House of Stuart. Bute was a member of parliament when he was 24 years, he had great prominence with George III, heir to the Crown and with his support was Prime Minister and leader Tory. He died in 1792 after falling 28 feet down some cliffs near his home and was buried on the Isle of Bute in Scotland. The Earl of Bute was the primer Scottish-born PM. Sources: Biography Image
George Grenville 1763-5 (Whig)
FACT FILE
Full name: George Grenville. Born: 14 October 1712 in Westminster, London. Family: Grenville was the second son of seven children.He was married to Elizabeth Wyndham, and had four sons and five daughters. Died: 13 November 1770 in Bolton St., London.
Biography George Grenville was born on the 14 October 1712 in Westminster, London. His First entry Parliament was on the 4 May 1741 at the age of 50 years, during 184 days. He Died 13 November 1770 in Bolton St., London. George Grenville, despite his background, did not have a success, since he was disliked by King George III. He had to govern under the widespread perception that the King was still listening more to the advice of Grenville’s predecessor, the Earl of Bute. His first government was full of problems. Grenville was seen as a threat to the liberty of the people and the press. He attempted to regain favour by lowering domestic taxes at the expense of the colonies, introducing the Stamp Act in 1765. The laws gave rise to widespread protests in America that eventually boiled over into the War for Independence. There was also a riot by English weavers protesting against imported silk, for which George III blamed Grenvillle. He died on the 13 November 1770 in Bolton St., London Sources: Biography Image