| The Right Honourable The Earl of Orford KG, KB, PC |
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| In office 4 April 1721 – 11 February 1742 |
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| Monarch | George I George II |
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| Preceded by | Office Created |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Wilmington |
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| In office April 3, 1721 – February 12, 1742 |
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| Monarch | George I George II |
| Preceded by | John Pratt |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Sandys |
| In office October 12, 1715 – April 15, 1717 |
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| Monarch | George I |
| Preceded by | Richard Onslow |
| Succeeded by | James Stanhope |
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| Born | 26 August 1676 Houghton, Norfolk, England |
| Died | 18 March 1745 (aged 68) London, England, Great Britain |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Whig |
| Alma mater | King's College, Cambridge |
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC (26 August 1676 – 18 March 1745), known before 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British statesman who is generally regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain. The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an Order of chivalry, or Knighthood, originating in Medieval England, and presently bestowed on recipients The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (formerly The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath) is a British Order of chivalry founded by George Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. Events 1071 - Battle of Manzikert: The Seljuk Turks defeat the Byzantine Army at Manzikert. Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor Year 1745 ( MDCCXLV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 A statesman or stateswoman or statesperson is usually a Politician or other notable figure of State who has had a long and respected career in The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the political leader of the United Kingdom Although the position of "Prime Minister" had no recognition in law or official use at the time, Walpole is nevertheless acknowledged as having held the office de facto because of his influence within the Cabinet. In the Politics of the United Kingdom, the Cabinet is a formal body composed of the most senior government ministers chosen by the Prime Minister
A Whig, Walpole served during the reigns of George I and George II. The Whigs (with the Tories) are often described as one of two political parties in England and later the United Kingdom from the late 17th to George I (George Louis German Georg Ludwig; 28 May 1660 &ndash 11 June 1727 For the first year of his life George was the only heir to his father's and three childless George II (George Augustus 10 November 1683 &ndash 25 October 1760 was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg ( His tenure is normally dated from 1721, when he obtained the post of First Lord of the Treasury; others date it from 1730, when, with the retirement of Lord Townshend, he became the sole and undisputed leader of the Cabinet. Year 1721 ( MDCCXXI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The First Lord of the Treasury is the head of the commission exercising the ancient office of Lord High Treasurer in the United Kingdom, usually but not Year 1730 ( MDCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Charles Townshend 2nd Viscount Townshend ( April 18, 1674 &ndash June 21, 1738) was an English statesman The "longer" version of the tenure is generally upheld by the contemporary press, most notably that of the opposition, who focused far more attention upon Walpole than his counterpart. Walpole continued to govern until his resignation in 1742, prompted by the Battle of Cartagena disaster, making his administration the longest in British history. Year 1742 ( MDCCXLII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Battle of Cartagena de Indias was the decisive battle of a massive amphibious expedition by the forces of Britain under Vice-Admiral Edward
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Early life and family
Robert Walpole was born in Houghton Hall, Norfolk in 1676. Houghton Hall is a Country house in Norfolk, England. It was built for the de facto first British Prime Minister, Sir Robert Norfolk (ˈnɔrfək is a low-lying county in East Anglia, England, United Kingdom. His father, also named Robert Walpole, was a Whig politician who represented the borough of Castle Rising in the House of Commons. Castle Rising is a Village and Civil parish in the English County of Norfolk. The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords His mother was Mary Walpole (née Burwell); he was the third of seventeen children, eight of whom died during infancy. Robert Walpole would later prove to hold the record amongst Prime Ministers for the greatest number of siblings.
Walpole was a scholar at Eton College from 1690 to 1695 and matriculated at King's College, Cambridge in 1696. Eton College, or just Eton, is a world-famous British Independent school for boys founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. King's College Cambridge is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. In 1698, he left the University of Cambridge after the death of his only remaining elder brother, Edward, so that he could help his father administer the family estate. Walpole had planned to become a clergyman, but abandoned the idea when, as the eldest surviving son in the family, he became the heir to his father's estate.
On 30 July 1700, Walpole married Catherine Shorter (died 20 August 1737), with whom he later had two daughters and four sons:
- Robert Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford (1701-31 March 1751), who married Margaret Rolle (17 January 1709-13 January 1781), later the 15th Baroness Clinton, on 26 March 1724 and had one son. Events 1419 - First Defenestration of Prague. 1502 - Christopher Columbus lands at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off Catherine Lady Walpole, ( née Shorter) (1682 &ndash 20 August 1737) was the first wife of British politician and Prime Minister Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine Year 1737 ( MDCCXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Robert Walpole 2nd Earl of Orford 1st Baron Walpole (1701 – 31 March 1751) known as the Lord Walpole from 1723 to 1745 was a British Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1751 ( MDCCLI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 38 BC - Octavian marries Livia Drusilla. 1287 - King Alfonso III of Aragon invades Minorca Year 1709 ( MDCCIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 532 - Nika riots in Constantinople. 888 - Odo Count of Paris becomes King of the Franks Year 1781 ( MDCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Baron Clinton is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1298 for John de Clinton. Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. Year 1724 ( MDCCXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a
- Katherine Walpole, (13 May 1703-22 October 1722), who died unmarried at Bath, Somerset. Events 1497 - Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola. Year 1703 ( MDCCIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 202 BC - Hannibal Barca, leader of the Carthaginians, is defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus Year 1722 ( MDCCXXII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Bath is a city in Somerset in the south west of England It is situated west of London and south-east of Bristol. Somerset ( or) is a county in south west England The County town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county
- Horatio Walpole (1704-24 July 1704)
- Mary Walpole (c. Year 1704 ( MDCCIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. Year 1704 ( MDCCIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a 1705-2 January 1732), who married the 3rd Earl of Cholmondeley on 14 September 1723 and had two sons. Year 1705 ( MDCCV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Year 1732 ( MDCCXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a George Cholmondeley 3rd Earl of Cholmondeley KB, PC ( 2 January 1703 – 10 June 1770) known as Viscount Malpas Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. Year 1723 ( MDCCXXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a
- Sir Edward Walpole (1706-1784); he had an illegitimate daughter, Maria Walpole, who later married into the British Royal Family, becoming the wife of Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, King George III's brother. Year 1706 ( MDCCVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1784 ( MDCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Maria Walpole ( 10 July 1736 &ndash 22 August 1807) the Countess Waldegrave and Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh, was The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Prince William Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh KG PC FRS (William Henry was born at Leicester House, London. George III (George William Frederick 4 June 1738 George III's long reign was marked by a series of military conflicts involving his kingdom much of the rest of Europe and places Ancestors of Diana, Princess of Wales.
- Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (1717-1797)
After Lady Walpole died, Walpole married his mistress, Maria Skerritt, before 3 March 1738. Horace Walpole 4th Earl of Orford ( 24 September, 1717 &ndash 2 March, 1797) more commonly known as Horace Walpole, was a politician Year 1717 ( MDCCXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1797 ( MDCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Maria Lady Walpole ( née Skerritt, Skerrett, or Skerret) (1702 &ndash 4 June 1738) was the second wife of British politician Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Year 1738 ( MDCCXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or They had been openly together in Richmond, Houghton Hall and London society since about 1724, and she had born him an illegitimate daughter, whom he eventually had ennobled as Lady Maria Walpole-who married Colonel Charles Churchill of Chalfont {1720-1812}-a great nephew of the 1st Duke of Marlborough- with whom she had two daughters-of whom one daughter Sophia Churchill married Horatio Walpole-a great grandson of Robert Walpole and Mary Burwell and also descended from William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley. Richmond is a Market town on the River Swale in North Yorkshire, England and is the administrative centre of the district of Richmondshire Houghton Hall is a Country house in Norfolk, England. It was built for the de facto first British Prime Minister, Sir Robert Charles Churchill may refer to Charles Churchill (British army officer (1656–1714 general and brother of the 1st Duke of Marlborough Lord Burghley redirects here For other holders of the title see Baron Burghley William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (13 September 1520 &ndash The second Lady Walpole died of a miscarriage 3 months after the couple's marriage. As a couple they were commemorated as Polly and Macheath in John Gay's The Beggar's Opera which he wrote in 1728. John Gay ( 30 June, 1685 - 4 December, 1732) was an English Poet and Dramatist. The Beggar's Opera is a Ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay.
Early political career
Walpole's political career began in January 1701, when he won the general election in Castle Rising (the constituency once represented by his father, who had died just three months earlier). Castle Rising was a Parliamentary borough in Norfolk, which elected two Members of Parliament (MPs to the House of Commons from 1558 until He left Castle Rising in 1702 so that he could contest the neighbouring but more important borough of King's Lynn, a constituency that would re-elect him at every subsequent general election for the next forty years. Year 1702 ( MDCCII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year King's Lynn was a constituency in Norfolk, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United
Like his father, Robert Walpole was a zealous member of the Whig Party, which was then more powerful than the opposing Tory Party. In the political tradition of some English-speaking countries, the term Tory has referred to a variety of political parties and Creeds since it was In 1705, Walpole was appointed a member of the Council of the Lord High Admiral (then Prince George of Denmark, the husband of Queen Anne), a body which oversaw naval affairs. Year 1705 ( MDCCV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Prince George of Denmark and Norway Duke of Cumberland ( Danish: Prins Jørgen hertug af Cumberland 2 April 1653 &ndash 28 October 1708 was the Prince consort Anne (6 February 1665 – 1 August 1714 became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702 succeeding William III of England and II of His administrative skills having been noticed, Walpole was promoted by Lord Godolphin (the Lord High Treasurer and leader of the Cabinet) to the position of Secretary at War in 1708; for a short period of time in 1710, he also simultaneously held the post of Treasurer of the Navy. Sidney Godolphin first Earl of Godolphin (c 1645 &ndash September 15, 1712) was a leading British politician of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth The post of Lord High Treasurer or Lord Treasurer is an old English (after 1707, British) government position The Secretary at War was a political position in the British government with some responsibility over the administration and organization of the British army, but Year 1708 ( MDCCVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1710 ( MDCCX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year The Treasurer of the Navy was an office in the British government between the mid-16th and early 19th century Walpole's service in these offices made him a close advisor of the Duke of Marlborough, the commander of British forces in the War of the Spanish Succession and a dominant force in British politics. In the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714 several European powers combined to stop French succession to the Spanish throne and what would likely have been a resulting Robert Walpole himself quickly became one of the most important members of the Cabinet.
Despite his personal clout, however, Walpole could not stop Lord Godolphin and the Whigs from pressing for the prosecution of Henry Sacheverell, a minister who preached anti-Whig sermons. Henry Sacheverell (1674 &ndash 15 June 1724) was an English churchman and politician The trial was extremely unpopular with much of the country, and was followed by the downfall of the Duke of Marlborough and the Whig Party in the general election of 1710. Year 1710 ( MDCCX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year The new ministry, under the leadership of the Tory Robert Harley, removed Walpole from his office of Secretary at War, but allowed him to remain Treasurer of the Navy until 2 January 1711. Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer ( 5 December 1661 &ndash 21 May 1724) was an English statesman of the Stuart Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Year 1711 ( MDCCXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Harley attempted to entice him to join the Tories, but Walpole rejected the offers, instead becoming one of the most outspoken members of the Whig Opposition. He effectively defended Lord Godolphin against Tory attacks in parliamentary debate, as well as in the press.
Angered by his political attacks, the Tories sought to ruin and discredit him along with the Duke of Marlborough. In 1712, they alleged that he had been guilty of corruption as Secretary at War; these charges, however, stemmed from political hatred rather than fact. Year 1712 ( MDCCXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap Walpole was impeached by the House of Commons and found guilty by the overwhelmingly Tory House of Lords; he was then imprisoned in the Tower of London for six months and expelled from Parliament. The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords" Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically as The Tower) is a historic monument in central London The move, however, backfired against the Tories, as Walpole was perceived by the public as the victim of an unjust trial. His own constituency even re-elected him in 1713, despite his earlier expulsion from the House of Commons. Year 1713 ( MDCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Walpole developed an intense hatred for Robert Harley (by then Earl of Oxford and Mortimer) and Lord Bolingbroke, the Tories who had engineered his impeachment. Earl of Oxford was one of the older titles in the English Peerage, and was held for several centuries by the de Vere family from 1141 Henry St John 1st Viscount Bolingbroke ( 16 September 1678 &ndash 12 December 1751) was an English politician and philosopher
Stanhope/Sunderland Ministry
Queen Anne died in 1714, to be succeeded by a distant German cousin, George I, under the Act of Settlement 1701. Year 1714 ( MDCCXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a George I (George Louis German Georg Ludwig; 28 May 1660 &ndash 11 June 1727 For the first year of his life George was the only heir to his father's and three childless The Act of Settlement is an act of the Parliament of England, originally filed in 1700 and passed in 1701 to settle the succession to the English throne George I distrusted the Tories, who he believed opposed his right to succeed to the Throne. (The Act of Settlement had excluded several senior relatives of Anne on the grounds of their adherence to Roman Catholicism. ) Thus, 1714, the year of George's accession, marked the ascendancy of the Whigs, who would remain in power for the next fifty years. Robert Walpole became a Privy Councillor and rose to the position of Paymaster of the Forces in a Cabinet nominally led by Lord Halifax, but actually dominated by Lord Townshend (Walpole's brother-in-law) and James Stanhope. Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. The Paymaster of the Forces was a British government position Charles Montagu 1st Earl of Halifax, KG, PC, FRS ( 16 April 1661 &ndash 19 May 1715) was an English James Stanhope 1st Earl Stanhope, PC (c 1673 – February 5 1721) English and British statesman and soldier was born in Paris, the eldest Walpole was also appointed chairman of a secret committee formed to investigate the actions of the previous Tory ministry. The individuals who had brought about Walpole's impeachment in 1712 were now themselves attacked for purely political reasons: Lord Oxford was impeached, and Lord Bolingbroke suffered from an act of attainder. A bill of attainder (also known as an act or writ of Attainder) is an act of Legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of
Lord Halifax, the titular head of the administration, died in 1715. Year 1715 ( MDCCXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Walpole, recognised as an assiduous politician, was immediately promoted to the important posts of First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer; in this position, he introduced the sinking fund, a device to reduce the national debt. The First Lord of the Treasury is the head of the commission exercising the ancient office of Lord High Treasurer in the United Kingdom, usually but not The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all Economic and Financial Historical Context A Sinking Fund was a device used in Great Britain in the 18th century to reduce National debt. The Cabinet of which he was a member was often divided over most important issues; normally, Walpole and Lord Townshend were on one side, with Stanhope and Lord Sunderland on the other. Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland (c 1674&ndash 19 April 1722) was an English statesman Foreign policy was the primary issue of contention, for Walpole and Townshend believed that George I was conducting foreign affairs with the interests of his German territories—rather than those of Great Britain—at heart. The Stanhope-Sunderland faction, however, had the King's support. In 1716, Townshend was removed from the important post of Northern Secretary and put in the lesser office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Year 1716 ( MDCCXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Secretary of State for the Northern Department was a position in the Cabinet of the government of the Kingdom of Great Britain up to 1782 The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (Ard-Leifteanant na hÉireann ( Plural: Lords Lieutenant) also known as the Judiciar in the early Mediaeval period Even this change did not appease Stanhope and Sunderland, who secured the dismissal of Townshend from the Lord-Lieutenancy in April 1717. Year 1717 ( MDCCXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a On the next day, Walpole resigned from the Cabinet to join Townshend in the Opposition. In the new Cabinet, Sunderland and Stanhope (who was created an Earl) were the effective heads.
Soon after Walpole's resignation, a bitter family quarrel between the King and the Prince of Wales split the Royal Family. George II (George Augustus 10 November 1683 &ndash 25 October 1760 was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg ( Walpole and others who opposed the Government often congregated at Leicester House, the home of the Prince of Wales, to form political plans. Walpole also became a close friend of the Prince of Wales's wife, Caroline. In 1720, he improved his position by bringing about a reconciliation between the Prince of Wales and the King. Year 1720 ( MDCCXX) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting
Walpole continued to be an influential figure in the House of Commons; he was especially active in opposing one of the Government's more significant proposals, the Peerage Bill, which would have limited the power of the monarch to create new peerages. The Peerage is a system of Titles of Nobility in the United Kingdom, part of the British honours system. Walpole brought about a temporary abandonment of the bill in 1719, and the outright rejection of the bill by the House of Commons in the next year. Year 1719 ( MDCCXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a This defeat led Lord Stanhope and Lord Sunderland to reconcile with their opponents; Walpole returned to the Cabinet as Paymaster of the Forces, and Townshend was appointed Lord President of the Council. The Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Treasurer and above By returning to the Cabinet, however, he lost the favour of the Prince of Wales (the future King George II), who still harboured disdain for his father's Government.
Rise to power
Soon after Walpole returned to the Cabinet, England was swept by a wave of over-enthusiastic speculation which led to the South Sea Bubble. For the Noel Coward play see South Sea Bubble (play. The South Sea Bubble of 1720 was an Economic bubble that occurred The Government had established a plan whereby the South Sea Company would assume the national debt of Great Britain in exchange for lucrative bonds. It was widely believed that the Company would eventually reap an enormous profit through international trade in cloth, agricultural goods, and slaves. The history of slavery uncovers many different forms of human exploitation across many cultures throughout history Many in the country, including Walpole himself, frenziedly invested in the company. By the latter part of 1720, however, the company had begun to collapse as the price of its shares plunged. Walpole was saved from financial ruin by his banker, who had earlier advised him to sell his shares; other investors, however, were not as fortunate.
In 1721, a committee investigated the scandal, finding that there was corruption on the part of many in the Cabinet. Year 1721 ( MDCCXXI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Among those implicated were John Aislabie (the Chancellor of the Exchequer), James Craggs the Elder (the Postmaster General), James Craggs the Younger (the Southern Secretary), and even Lord Stanhope and Lord Sunderland (the heads of the Ministry). John Aislabie ( 4 December 1670 &ndash 18 June 1742) was a British Politician, notable for his involvement in the James Craggs the Elder (bap 10 June 1657 &ndash 16 March 1721) was an English politician and the father of James Craggs the Younger The Postmaster General in the United Kingdom is a defunct ministerial position in HM Government. James Craggs the Younger ( 9 April 1686 - 16 February 1721) son of James Craggs the Elder, was born at Westminster. The Secretary of State for the Southern Department was a position in the Cabinet of the government of Kingdom of Great Britain up to 1782 Craggs the Elder and Craggs the Younger both died in disgrace; the remainder were impeached for their corruption. Aislabie was found guilty and imprisoned, but the personal influence of Walpole saved both Stanhope and Sunderland. For his role in preventing these individuals, and others, from being punished, Walpole gained the nickname of "Screenmaster-General".
The resignation of Sunderland and the death of Stanhope in 1721 left Walpole as the most important figure in the administration. Year 1721 ( MDCCXXI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a In April 1721, he was appointed First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House of Commons. Year 1721 ( MDCCXXI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Walpole's de facto tenure as "Prime Minister" is often dated to his appointment as First Lord in 1721. In reality, however, Walpole shared power with his brother-in-law, Lord Townshend, who served as Secretary of State for the Northern Department and controlled the nation's foreign affairs. The two also had to contend with the Secretary of State for the Southern Department, Lord Carteret. John Carteret 2nd Earl Granville 7th Seigneur of Sark, PC ( 22 April 1690 &ndash 22 January 1763) commonly known by his earlier
Premiership under George I
Under the guidance of Walpole, Parliament attempted to deal with the financial crisis. The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland The estates of the directors of the company were confiscated and used to relieve the suffering of the victims, and the stock of the South Sea Company was divided between the Bank of England and East India Company. The crisis had significantly damaged the credibility of the King and of the Whig Party, but Walpole defended both with skilful oratory in the House of Commons.
Walpole's first year as Prime Minister was also marked by the discovery of a Jacobite plot formed by Francis Atterbury, the Bishop of Rochester. Francis Atterbury ( March 6 1663 &ndash February 22 1732) was an English Man of letters, Politician and See also List of bishops of Rochester The Bishop of Rochester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese The exposure of the scheme crushed the hopes of the Jacobites, whose previous attempts at rebellion (most notably the risings of 1715 and 1719) had also failed. Jacobitism was (and to a limited extent remains the political movement dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland Year 1715 ( MDCCXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1719 ( MDCCXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Tory Party was equally unfortunate, even though Lord Bolingbroke, a Tory leader who fled to France to avoid punishment for his Jacobite sympathies, was permitted to return to England in 1723. Year 1723 ( MDCCXXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a
During the remainder of George I's reign, Walpole's ascendancy continued; the political power of the monarch was gradually diminishing, and that of his ministers gradually increasing. In 1724, the primary political rival of Walpole and Townshend in the Cabinet, Lord Carteret, was dismissed from the post of Southern Secretary and once again appointed to the lesser office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Year 1724 ( MDCCXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a In Ireland, Lord Carteret used his power to secretly aid in the controversy over Wood's Halfpence and support Drapier's Letters behind the scenes and cause harm to Walpole's power. William Wood was a hardware manufacturer who was given a contract as a mintmaster to strike an issue of Irish coinage from 1722 to 1724 Drapier's Letters is the collective name for a series of seven Pamphlets written by the Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Jonathan Swift [1][2] Walpole was able to recover from these events by removing the patent, however, Irish sentiment was situated against the English control. [3]
Now, Walpole and Townshend were clearly the supreme forces in the ministry. They helped keep Great Britain at peace, especially by negotiating a treaty with France and Prussia in 1725. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state Year 1725 ( MDCCXXV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Great Britain, free from Jacobite threats, from war, and from financial crises, grew prosperous, and Robert Walpole acquired the favour of George I. In 1725, he was created a Knight of the Bath, and in 1726, a Knight of the Garter (earning him the nickname "Sir Blustering"). The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (formerly The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath) is a British Order of chivalry founded by George Year 1726 ( MDCCXXVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an Order of chivalry, or Knighthood, originating in Medieval England, and presently bestowed on recipients Moreover, his eldest son was granted a barony.
Premiership under George II
Sir Robert Walpole's position was threatened in 1727, when George I died and was succeeded by George II. Year 1727 ( MDCCXXVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common For a few days, it seemed that Walpole would be dismissed, but the King agreed to keep him in office upon the advice of Queen Caroline. Although the King disliked Townshend, he retained him as well. Over the next years, Walpole continued to share power with Townshend, but gradually became the clearly dominant partner in government. The two clashed over British foreign affairs, especially over policy regarding Prussia, but Walpole was ultimately victorious, with his colleague retiring on 15 May 1730. Events 1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the Papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes but also limits the Year 1730 ( MDCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a This date is often given as the beginning of Walpole's unofficial tenure as Prime Minister.
During the following years, Walpole was more dominant than during any other part of his administration. Having secured the support of Queen Caroline, and, by extension, of King George II, he made liberal use of the royal patronage, granting honours and making appointments for political gains. He selected the members of his Cabinet, and was capable of forcing them to act in unison when necessary; as no previous head of the administration could wield so much influence, Walpole is properly regarded as the first "Prime Minister".
Walpole, a polarising figure, had many opponents, the most important of whom were Lord Bolingbroke (who had been his political enemy since the days of Queen Anne) and William Pulteney (a capable Whig statesman who felt snubbed when Walpole failed to include him in the Cabinet). William Pulteney 1st Earl of Bath, PC ( 22 March 1684 &ndash July 7, 1764) was an English Politician, dubbed Bolingbroke and Pulteney ran a periodical called The Craftsman, in which they incessantly denounced the Prime Minister's policies. Walpole was also satirised and parodied extensively; he was often compared to the criminal Jonathan Wild, as, for example, John Gay did in his farcical Beggar's Opera. Jonathan Wild ( baptised 6 May 1683 – 24 May 1725) was perhaps the most famous criminal of London &mdash and John Gay ( 30 June, 1685 - 4 December, 1732) was an English Poet and Dramatist. The Beggar's Opera is a Ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay. Walpole's other enemies included Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, Henry Fielding, and Dr Samuel Johnson. Jonathan Swift (30 November 1667 Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 – 30 May 1744 is generally regarded as the greatest English Poet of the eighteenth century best known for his Satirical Henry Fielding ( April 22, 1707 &ndash October 8, 1754) was an English Novelist and Dramatist known for his Samuel Johnson (often referred to as Dr Johnson) (18 September
Despite such opposition, Walpole secured the support of the people and of the House of Commons with a policy of avoiding war, which, in turn, allowed him to impose low taxes. He used his influence to prevent George II from entering a European conflict in 1733, when the War of the Polish Succession broke out. Year 1733 ( MDCCXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The War of the Polish Succession ( 1733 - 1738) was sparked by a Polish Civil war over the succession to Augustus II, King of Poland In the same year, however, his influence was seriously threatened by a taxation scheme he introduced. The revenue of the country had been severely diminished by smugglers, so Walpole proposed that the tariff on wine and tobacco be replaced by an excise tax. For other uses of this word see Tariff (disambiguation. A tariff is a tax imposed on goods when they are moved across a political boundary Excise or Excise tax (sometimes called an excise duty) is a type of Tax charged on goods produced within the country (as opposed to Customs duties To countervail the threat of smuggling, the tax was to be collected not at ports, but at warehouses. This new proposal, however, was extremely unpopular, and aroused the opposition of the nation's merchants. Walpole agreed to withdraw the bill before Parliament voted on it, but he dismissed the politicians who had dared to oppose it in the first place. Thus, Walpole lost a considerable element of his Whig Party to the Opposition.
After the general elections of 1734, Walpole's supporters still formed a majority in the House of Commons, though they were less numerous than before. Year 1734 ( MDCCXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Though he maintained his parliamentary supremacy, however, his popularity began to wane. In 1736, an increase in the tax on gin inspired riots in London. Year 1736 ( MDCCXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Gin is a spirit flavoured with Juniper berries. Distilled gin is made by redistilling white grain spirit which has been flavoured with juniper The even more serious Porteous Riots broke out in Edinburgh, after the King pardoned a captain of the guard (John Porteous) who had commanded his troops to shoot a group of protesters. The Porteous Riots surrounded the activities of Captain John Porteous, (ca Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. Though these events diminished Walpole's popularity, they failed to shake his majority in Parliament. Walpole's domination over the House of Commons was highlighted by the ease with which he secured the rejection of Sir John Barnard's plan to reduce the interest on the national debt. Walpole was also able to persuade Parliament to pass the Licensing Act of 1737, under which London theatres were regulated. The Act revealed a disdain for Swift, Pope, Fielding, and other literary figures who had attacked his government in their works.
Decline
The year 1737 was also marked by the death of Walpole's close friend, Queen Caroline. Though her death did not end his personal influence with George II, who had grown loyal to the Prime Minister during the preceding years, Walpole's domination of government continued to decline. His opponents acquired a vocal leader in the Prince of Wales, who was estranged from his father, the King. The Prince Frederick Prince of Wales (Frederick Louis 1 February 1707 &ndash 31 March 1751) was a member of the Hanoverian and Several young politicians, including William Pitt the Elder and George Grenville, formed a faction known as the "Patriot Boys" and joined the Prince of Wales in opposition. William Pitt 1st Earl of Chatham PC (15 November 1708 &ndash 11 May 1778 was a British Whig Statesman who achieved his greatest fame as George Grenville (14 October 1712 &ndash 13 November 1770 was a British Whig statesman who served in government
Walpole's failure to maintain a policy of avoiding military conflict eventually led to his fall from power. Under the Treaty of Seville (1729), Great Britain agreed not to trade with the Spanish colonies in North America; Spain claimed the right to board and search British vessels to ensure compliance. The Treaty of Seville was signed on November 9 1729 between Great Britain, France, and Spain, concluding the Anglo-Spanish War Year 1729 ( MDCCXXIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Disputes, however, broke out over trade with the West Indies. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting Walpole attempted to prevent war, but was opposed by the King, the House of Commons, and by a faction in his own Cabinet. In 1739, Walpole abandoned all efforts to stop the conflict, and commenced the War of Jenkins' Ear (so called because Robert Jenkins, an English mariner, claimed that a Spaniard inspecting his vessel had severed his ear). Year 1739 ( MDCCXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The War of Jenkins' Ear was a conflict between Great Britain and Spain that lasted from 1739 to 1748 Robert Jenkins (fl 1730s-40s was an English master mariner, famous as the Protagonist of the "Jenkins's ear" incident which became a contributory
Walpole's influence continued to dramatically decline even after the war began. In the 1741 general election his supporters secured an increase in votes in constituencies that were decided by mass electorates, but failed to win in many pocket boroughs (constituencies subject to the informal but strong influence of patrons). Summary of the Constituencies See British general election 1796 for details The term "rotten" or "decayed" borough referred to a parliamentary borough or Constituency in Great Britain and Ireland In general the government made gains in England and Wales but this was not enough to overturn the reverses of the 1734 election and further losses in Cornwall where many constituencies were obedient to the will of the Prince of Wales (who was also Duke of Cornwall); these constituencies returned Members of Parliament hostile to the Prime Minister. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Summary of the Constituencies See British general election 1796 for details Cornwall ( Kernow ˈkɛɹnɔʊ is the most southwesterly county of England, on the Peninsula that lies to the west of the River Tamar The Dukedom of Cornwall was the first Dukedom created in the Peerage of England. Similarly, the influence of the Duke of Argyll secured the election of members opposed to Walpole in some parts of Scotland. Field Marshal John Campbell 2nd Duke of Argyll 1st Duke of Greenwich KG ( October 10, 1678 – October 4, 1743) known Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Walpole's new majority was difficult to determine because of the uncertain loyalties of many new members, but contemporaries and historians estimated it as low as fourteen to eighteen.
In the new Parliament, many Whigs thought the aging Prime Minister incapable of leading the military campaign. Moreover, his majority was not as strong as it used to be; his detractors approximately as numerous as his supporters. In 1742, when the House of Commons was prepared to determine the validity of an allegedly rigged by-election in Chippenham, Walpole and others agreed to treat the issue as a Motion of No Confidence. Year 1742 ( MDCCXLII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a A by-election or bye-election (called special election in the United States) is an Election held to fill a political office that has become vacant Chippenham is a Market town in Wiltshire, England, located at, some 21 km (13 miles east of Bath and 163 km (96 miles west of London A motion of no confidence (also vote of no confidence, censure motion, no-confidence motion, or confidence motion) is a Parliamentary motion As Walpole was defeated on the vote, he agreed to resign from the Government. The news of the naval disaster against Spain in the Battle of Cartagena de Indias also prompted the end of his political career. The Battle of Cartagena de Indias was the decisive battle of a massive amphibious expedition by the forces of Britain under Vice-Admiral Edward As part of his resignation the King agreed to elevate him to the House of Lords as the Earl of Orford and this occurred on February 6, 1742. The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords" Earl of Orford is a title that has been created three times The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1697 in favour of the naval commander Edward Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio Year 1742 ( MDCCXLII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Five days later he formally relinquished the seals of office.
Later years
Orford was succeeded as Prime Minister by Lord Wilmington, in an administration whose true head was Lord Carteret. Spencer Compton 1st Earl of Wilmington, KG, KB, PC (1673 &ndash 2 July 1743 was a British Whig Statesman who served John Carteret 2nd Earl Granville 7th Seigneur of Sark, PC ( 22 April 1690 &ndash 22 January 1763) commonly known by his earlier A committee was created to inquire into his ministry, but no substantial evidence of wrongdoing or corruption was discovered. Though no longer a member of the Cabinet, Lord Orford continued to maintain personal influence with George II and was often dubbed the "Minister behind the Curtain" for this advice and influence. In 1744, he managed to secure the dismissal of Carteret and the appointment of Henry Pelham. Year 1744 ( MDCCXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Henry Pelham ( 25 September 1694 &ndash 6 March 1754) was a British Whig Statesman, who served as Prime
Orford died in London in 1745, aged nearly sixty-nine years; he was buried in his home town of Houghton. Year 1745 ( MDCCXLV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a His earldom passed to his eldest son Robert, who was in turn succeeded by his only son George. Upon the death of the third Earl, the Earldom was inherited by the first Earl's younger son, Horace Walpole (a famous writer and friend of poet Thomas Gray), who died without heirs in 1797. Horace Walpole 4th Earl of Orford ( 24 September, 1717 &ndash 2 March, 1797) more commonly known as Horace Walpole, was a politician Thomas Gray ( December 26, 1716 – July 30, 1771) was an English Poet, classical scholar and professor at Cambridge Year 1797 ( MDCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
Legacy
Walpole's influence on the politics of his day was tremendous. The Tories became a minor, insignificant faction, and the Whigs became a dominant and largely unopposed party. His influence on the development of the uncodified constitution of Great Britain was less momentous, even though he is regarded as Great Britain's first Prime Minister. He relied primarily on the favour of the King, rather than on the support of the House of Commons. His power stemmed from his personal influence instead of the influence of his office. Most of his immediate successors were, comparatively speaking, extremely weak; it would take several decades more for the premiership to develop into the most powerful and most important office in the country.
Walpole's strategy of keeping Great Britain at peace contributed greatly to the country's prosperity. Walpole also managed to secure the position of the Hanoverian Dynasty, and effectively countervailed Jacobitism. The House of Hanover (the Hanoverians) is a Germanic royal Dynasty which has ruled the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg The Jacobite threat was effectively ended, soon after Walpole's term ended, by the defeat of the rebellion of 1745. The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings rebellions and wars in the kingdoms of England, Kingdom of Scotland (later the United Kingdom of Great Britain
Another part of Walpole's legacy is 10 Downing Street. George II offered this home to Walpole as a personal gift in 1732, but Walpole accepted it only as the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, taking up his residence there on 22 September 1735. Year 1732 ( MDCCXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Year 1735 ( MDCCXXXV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a His immediate successors did not always reside in Number 10 (preferring their larger private residences), but the home has nevertheless become established as the official residence of the Prime Minister (in his or her capacity as First Lord of the Treasury).
Walpole also left behind a famous collection of art which he had assembled during his career. This collection was sold by his grandson, the 3rd Earl of Orford, to the Russian Empress Catherine II in 1779. Catherine II, called Catherine the Great (Екатерина II Великая Yekaterina II Velikaya;) reigned as Empress of Russia for 34 years Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common This collection—which was regarded as one of the finest in Europe—now lies in the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The State Hermitage Museum (Государственный Эрмитаж Gosudarstvennyj Èrmitaž) in Saint Petersburg, Russia is one of the largest Saint Petersburg ( tr: Sankt-Peterburg,) is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River
The nursery rhyme, "Who Killed Cock Robin?" is said to be an allusion to the fall of Walpole (Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes ISBN 0-19-860088-7). Who Killed Cock Robin is a Nursery rhyme beginning Who killed Cock Robin? I said the Sparrow with my bow and
The town of Walpole, Massachusetts, USA was founded in 1724 and named after Sir Robert Walpole. This article is about the town of Walpole Massachusetts For geographic and demographic information on the Census-designated place Walpole please see the article
Styles from birth to death
- Mr. Robert Walpole (1676-1701)
- Mr. Robert Walpole, MP (1701-1714)
- The Rt. Year 1714 ( MDCCXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Hon. Robert Walpole, MP (1714-1725)
- The Rt. Year 1714 ( MDCCXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1725 ( MDCCXXV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Hon. Sir Robert Walpole, KB, MP (1725-1726)
- The Rt. Year 1725 ( MDCCXXV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1726 ( MDCCXXVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Hon. Sir Robert Walpole, KG, MP (1726-1742)
- The Rt. Year 1726 ( MDCCXXVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1742 ( MDCCXLII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Hon. The Earl of Orford, KG, PC (1742-1745)
See also
- Walpole/Townshend Ministry (1721–1730)
- Walpole Ministry (1730–1742)
- List of Prime Ministers of Great Britain
References
- ^ Jonathan Swift and Ireland by Oliver W. Year 1742 ( MDCCXLII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1745 ( MDCCXLV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Robert Walpole's Cabinet The Ministry Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, and Ferguson
- ^ Jonathan Swift: Volume III by Irvin Ehrenpreis
- ^ Memoirs of the Life and Administration of Sir Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford by William Coxe, 1978
- Black, Jeremy. (2001). Walpole in Power. Stroud: Sutton Publishing.
- Dickinson, Harry T. (1973). Walpole and the Whig Supremacy. London: English Universities Press.
- Hill, Brian W. (1989). Sir Robert Walpole: "Sole and Prime Minister. " London: Hamish Hamilton.
- Morley, John. (1889). Walpole. London: Macmillan and Co.
- Plumb, John Harold. (1956–1960). Sir Robert Walpole. (2 volumes). London: Cresset Press.
- Plumb, John Harold. (1967). The Growth of Political Stability in England 1675–1725. London: Macmillan and Co.
- More about Sir Robert Walpole on the Downing Street website.
- http://www.efamilytree.net
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Henry St John |
Secretary at War 1708 – 1710 |
Succeeded by George Granville |
| Preceded by Sir Thomas Littleton |
Treasurer of the Navy 1710 – 1711 |
Succeeded by Charles Caesar |
| Preceded by John Howe |
Paymaster of the Forces 1714 – 1715 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Lincoln |
| Preceded by The Earl of Carlisle |
First Lord of the Treasury 1715 – 1717 |
Succeeded by James Stanhope |
| Preceded by Sir Richard Onslow |
Chancellor of the Exchequer 1715 – 1717 |
|
| Preceded by The Earl of Lincoln |
Paymaster of the Forces 1720 – 1721 |
Succeeded by The Lord Cornwallis |
| First None recognised before
|
Prime Minister of Great Britain 4 April 1721 – 11 February 1742 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Wilmington |
| Preceded by The Earl of Sunderland |
First Lord of the Treasury 1721 – 1742 |
|
| Preceded by Sir John Pratt |
Chancellor of the Exchequer 1721 – 1742 |
Succeeded by Samuel Sandys |
| Preceded by Unknown |
Leader of the House of Commons 1721 – 1742 |
|
| Parliament of England | ||
| Preceded by Robert Walpole Thomas Howard |
Member of Parliament for Castle Rising with Thomas Howard 1701 Robert Cecil 1701 The Earl of Ranelagh 1701–1702 Marquess of Hartington 1702 1701 – 1702 |
Succeeded by Sir Thomas Littleton Horatio Walpole |
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by Sir John Turner Sir Charles Turner |
Member of Parliament for King's Lynn with Sir Charles Turner 1702 – 1712 |
Succeeded by Sir Charles Turner Sir John Turner |
| Preceded by Sir Charles Turner Sir John Turner |
Member of Parliament for King's Lynn with Sir Charles Turner 1713–1739 Sir John Turner 1739–1742 1713 – 1742 |
Succeeded by Sir John Turner Edward Bacon |
| Peerage of Great Britain | ||
| New creation | Earl of Orford 1742 – 1745 |
Succeeded by Robert Walpole |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Walpole, Robert |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | 1st Earl of Orford |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Prime Minister of Great Britain |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 26 August 1676 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Houghton, Norfolk, England |
| DATE OF DEATH | 18 March 1745 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | London, England, Great Britain |
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