Global InformationRobert Walpole information
The Right Honourable The Earl of Orford KG PC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Portrait by Jean-Baptiste van Loo, c. 1740 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st Prime Minister of Great Britain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 3 April 1721 – 11 February 1742 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Preceded by | Office established | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Wilmington | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Lord of the Treasury | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 4 April 1721 – 11 February 1742 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Charles Spencer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Wilmington | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 10 October 1715 – 12 April 1717 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | The Earl of Carlisle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | The Earl Stanhope | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 3 April 1721 – 12 February 1742 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Sir John Pratt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Samuel Sandys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 12 October 1715 – 15 April 1717 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Sir Richard Onslow | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | The Earl Stanhope | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 26 August 1676 Houghton, Norfolk, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 18 March 1745 (aged 68) London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Resting place | St Martin at Tours' Church, Houghton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Whig | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouses | Catherine Shorter
(m. 1700; died 1737)Maria Skerret
(m. 1738; died 1738) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 6, including Robert, Edward and Horace | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent |
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| Relatives | Walpole family | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Eton College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | King's College, Cambridge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, PC (26 August 1676 – 18 March 1745), known between 1725 and 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British statesman and Whig politician who, as First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Leader of the House of Commons, is generally regarded as the de facto first Prime Minister of Great Britain.
Although the exact dates of Walpole's dominance, dubbed the "Robinocracy",[1] are a matter of scholarly debate, the period 1721–1742 is often used. He dominated the Walpole–Townshend ministry, as well as the subsequent Walpole ministry, and holds the record as the longest-serving British prime minister. W. A. Speck wrote that Walpole's uninterrupted run of 20 years as prime minister "is rightly regarded as one of the major feats of British political history. Explanations are usually offered in terms of his expert handling of the political system after 1720, [and] his unique blending of the surviving powers of the crown with the increasing influence of the Commons".[2]
Walpole was a Whig from the gentry class who was first elected to Parliament in 1701 and held many senior positions. He was a country squire and looked to country gentlemen for his political base. Historian F. O'Gorman says his leadership in Parliament reflected his "reasonable and persuasive oratory, his ability to move both the emotions as well as the minds of men, and, above all, his extraordinary self-confidence".[3] Hoppit says Walpole's policies sought moderation, he worked for peace, lower taxes and growing exports and allowed a little more tolerance for Protestant Dissenters. He mostly avoided controversy and high-intensity disputes as his middle way attracted moderates from both the Whig and Tory camps, but his appointment to Chancellor of the Exchequer after the South Sea Bubble stock-market crisis drew attention to perceived protection of political allies by Walpole.[4][5]
Historian H. T. Dickinson sums up his historical role by saying that "Walpole was one of the greatest politicians in British history. He played a significant role in sustaining the Whig party, safeguarding the Hanoverian succession, and defending the principles of the Glorious Revolution (1688). He established stable political supremacy for the Whig party and taught succeeding ministers how best to establish an effective working relationship between Crown and Parliament".[6] Some scholars rank him highly among British prime ministers.[7]
- ^ "Robinocracy". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020.
- ^ Speck, W. A. (1977). Stability and Strife: England 1714–1760. p. 203.
- ^ O'Gorman, Frank (1997). The Long Eighteenth Century: British political and social history 1688–1832. p. 71.
- ^ Hoppit, Julian (2000). A Land of Liberty? England 1689–1727. p. 410.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
UK-hist-blog-2014-11-20was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Dickinson, H. T. (2003). "Walpole, Sir Robert". In Loads, David (ed.). Readers' Guide to British History. p. 1338.
- ^ Strangio, Paul; 't Hart, Paul; Walter, James (2013). Understanding Prime-Ministerial Performance: Comparative perspectives. Oxford U. Press. p. 225. ISBN 9780199666423.