Presenter: Besze Ildikó

Tutor: Dr. Péter Róbert

British History, 1688-1832
Topic: Robert Walpole

Robert Walpole (1676-1745)

Seventeenth-century background:  the new ministry removed Walpole from his office of Secretary at
War
 leading politicians were born and grew up  BUT! allowed him to remain Treasurer of the Navy
 serious instability and conflict  he became one of the most outspoken members of the Whig
 interrelated causes were religious, political and dynastic Opposition
 Rye House Plot of 1683  he was:
 Judge Jeffreys - impeached by the House of Commons
 unsuccessful politician  could expect parliamentary - found guilty by the Tory House of Lords
impeachment, imprisonment and even execution - imprisoned in the Tower of London
- expelled from Parliament
Robert Walpole
Stanhope–Sunderland Ministry
 he was born on 26 August 1676 in Houghton
 the first Prime Minister of Great Britain (1721–1742)  in 1714  George I came to the throne
 he was educated at Cambridge University  the Whigs were in the ascendant again
 in 1715  Walpole became first lord of the treasury and
Early political career chancellor of the exchequer
 began in January 1701  he won the general election in Castle  he introduced: the sinking fund
Rising  In 1716  Townshend was removed from the important post
 He was a member of the Whig Party of Northern Secretary and put in the lesser office of Lord
 in 1705 he was appointed a member of the Council of the Lieutenant of Ireland.
Lord High Admiral  next day  Walpole resigned from the Cabinet to join
 in 1708  he was promoted to the position of Secretary at Townshend in the Opposition
War  Walpole and others who opposed the Government often
congregated at Leicester House to form political plans
 in 1710  he held the post of Treasurer of the Navy  He became a close friend of the Prince of Wales' wife,
These offices made him: Caroline
 in 1720  he improved his position by bringing about a
- a close advisor of the Duke of reconciliation between the Prince of Wales and the King
Marlborough One of the most important
- the commander of British forces members of the Cabinet
- a dominant force in British politics
Presenter: Besze Ildikó
Tutor: Dr. Péter Róbert
British History, 1688-1832
Topic: Robert Walpole

 He was active in opposing the Peerage Bill (which would have

limited the power of the monarch to create new peerages)
 Walpole returned to the Cabinet as Paymaster of the Forces

Premiership under George I Decline

 Parliament attempted to deal with the financial crisis
 the estates of the directors of the company were confiscated
and used to relieve the suffering of the victims
 the stock of the South Sea Company was divided
 Walpole's first year as Prime Minister  marked by the
discovery of a Jacobite plot
 the political power of the monarch was gradually diminishing
 Walpole and Townshend were the supreme forces in the
ministry  they helped keep Great Britain at peace
 Robert Walpole acquired the favor of George I.
Premiership under George II
 Walpole continued to share power with Townshend  the dominant
partner in government
 He made liberal use of the royal patronage
 Walpole selected the members of his Cabinet
 He had many opponents: Lord Bolingbroke; William Pulteney
 He imposed low taxes
 In 1733 he prevented George II from entering a European conflict
 The revenue of the country had been diminished by smugglers 
excise tax
 After the general elections of 1734, his popularity began to wane
 1737  the death of Queen Caroline
 Walpole's domination continued to decline
 the "Patriot Boys"
 Walpole attempted to prevent war, but was opposed:
- by the King
- the House of Commons
- by a faction in his own Cabinet
 In the 1741 general election he failed to win in many pocket boroughs
 According to many Whigs  the Prime Minister is incapable of
leading the military campaign
 In 1742 Walpole and others agreed to treat the issue as a Motion of
No Confidence
 He agreed to resign from the Government
 the Earl of Orford
Later years
 Orford was succeeded as Prime Minister
 A committee was created to inquire into his ministry
 Lord Orford continued to maintain personal influence with George II
 Orford died in London in 1745
Legacy

 He persuaded the Parliament to pass the Licensing Act of 1737  The Tories became a minor
 Whigs became a dominant and largely unopposed party
Presenter: Besze Ildikó
Tutor: Dr. Péter Róbert
British History, 1688-1832
Topic: Robert Walpole

 Walpole's strategy of keeping Great Britain at peace contributed

greatly to the country's prosperity
 He managed to secure the position of the Hanoverian Dynasty
 10 Downing Street and a collection of art