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Walpole, the First Prime Minister
During George I's absences in Hanover Robert Walpole became the leading force in Government. He was first and foremost a businessman and gradually controlled Britain's debt. Taxation was low, land tax reduced and trade stimulated.
Walpole avoided war by a rigid policy of non-intervention in European politics. He kept the Tories at bay by accusing them of being Jacobites which made George I extremely wary of them.
He allowed Edmund Gibson, Bishop of London, to handle church matters. He took steps to keep dissenters happy.
Walpole kept the Court sweet by giving George I's mistresses pensions and titles.
Sir Robert Walpole |
SIR ROBERT WALPOLE (1676-1745)- The first Prime Minister
- From a Norfolk family
- Left Cambridge after two years to help run the family estate
- MP for King's Lynn in 1701 as a Whig
- Iimpeached for corruption but returned and was First Lord of the Treasury between1722 and 1742
- Had such control that he became known as the First Minister, hence the title Prime Minister (at first one of some derision)
- Found a way out of the South Sea bubble fiasco, which pleased the monarch because many close to the throne had money tied up in the company
- Had the confidence of George I and won that of George II
- Wished not to get Britain involved in foreign affairs in the belief that a simple arrangement to manage the home economy was the best way to quietly govern the nation
- Resigned in 1742 against the wishes of George II
- Became Earl of Orford
The first Prime Minister, Robert Walpole was short, ruddy faced, weighed 20 stone and spoke with a Norfolk farmer's accent. 18th-century Catholics were not allowed to be members of Parliament, nor vote, nor keep weapons.
 
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| 1694 | Death of Mary II
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| 1701 | Death of James II
Louis XIV of France recognizes the Old Pretender as king
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| 1702 | Anne becomes queen
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| 1704 | Battle of Blenheim
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| 1706 | Battle of Ramilles
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| 1707 | Act of Union with Scotland
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| 1711 | Marlborough dismissed
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| 1714 | Death of Queen Anne
Death of Sophia, Electress of Hanover
George I becomes king
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| 1715 | Jacobite revolt
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| 1716 | Septennial Act passed
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| 1717 | Triple Alliance is formed against Spain
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| 1718 | Quadruple Alliance is formed
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| 1720 | South Sea Bubble bursts
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| 1722 | Walpole becomes Prime Minister
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| 1727 | George I dies
George II becomes king
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| 18TH CENTURY BRITISH PAINTERS | | • | Sir James Thornhill |
| • | Sir Godfrey Kneller |
| • | Michael Dahl |
| • | Joshua Reynolds |
| • | William Hogarth |
| • | Joseph Highmore |
| • | Francis Hayman |
| • | Arthur Devis |
| • | Allan Ramsay |
| • | Thomas Gainsborough |
| • | Joseph Wright |
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