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Мельникова Юлия Валериевна
A brief history of the office of Prime Minister The Prime Minister (PM) is the head of the UK Government (or executive) and is
ultimately responsible for the policy and decisions of the Government. The process
The Prime Minister is appointed by the Monarch, the Head of State, normally
after a general election.
After the election, by convention the Monarch calls on the leader of the majority party to form a Government and become the Prime Minister. Today, the
Prime Minister is invariably a member of the elected House of Commons, although
in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries many Prime Ministers sat in the House of Lords. The last of these was Lord Salisbury.
History
Sir Robert Walpole, whose long period in office lasted from 1721 to 1742, is
usually regarded as the first Prime Minister.
Even before Walpole, influential individuals had held positions of power in the
various ministries, but executive power tended to be exercised by the Monarch
and members of the Cabinet. However, King George I and George II both only had
a limited command of English and could not take an active role in cabinet -
Walpole filled that power vacuum.
Walpole exhibited many of the features associated with the office of Prime
Minister - dispensing royal patronage; command of the Cabinet; the power to
dismiss opponents and ensuring that colleagues agreed with the principals of
his party.
Walpole's successors did not develop the office until William Pitt the Younger
came to power in 1783. He build on the role Walpole had created and firmly
established the post during his two terms in office (1783-1801 and 1804-1806).
Over the course of the Nineteenth Century the office of Prime Minister
developed many of the features associated with it today and its stature and
influence grew. As the right to vote was extended in successive reform acts so
the mandate of the Prime Minister increased.
Oddly, the title of Prime Minister was not officially recognised until 200
years after Walpole first took on the role. The first official reference to the
title came in 1905, when a Royal Warrant was issued placing the Prime Minister
next after the Archbishop of York in the order of precedence. The first act of
Parliament to contain the title Prime Minister was the Chequers Estate Act
1917, and then only in a schedule. The first act to contain the title in the
main body was the Minister of the Crown Act 1937.
The role
As head of the UK Government the Prime Minister oversees the policies of the
Government and the operation of the civil service and Government agencies.
The Prime Minister plays a part in formulating and shaping policy, although
detailed policy work is carried out in individual Ministries and Government
departments.
The Prime Minister also often takes the lead as a spokesperson on individual
policies and how they fit into the Government's overall strategy. The PM is the
principal Government figure in the House of Commons.
The PM plays an important role in appointments by selecting the Cabinet and the
rest of the Government and advising the monarch on certain appointments and
honours. The PM also plays a part in representing the UK overseas - meeting
foreign heads of state and attending international conferences.
The first prime minister was Sir Robert Walpole (1721 - 1742)
The second was Henry Pelham 1743 1754
The third was Newcastle, Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of. As prime
minister, from 1754 to 1756, he was blamed for British reverses in the opening
phase of the Seven Years' War, but was returned to office in a coalition
ministry with William Pitt, 1st earl of Chatham, from 1757 to 1762. While Pitt
directed the conclusion of the war, Newcastle served as a party man and manager
of Parliament.
The forth PM was Grenville, George (1712-70), British prime minister
(1763-65), born in London, and educated at Christ Church College, University of
Oxford. In 1741 he became a member of Parliament, where he served for the rest
of his life. Except for a brief period in 1757, he held office as treasurer of
the navy from 1754 until 1762. Grenville was leader of the House of Commons and
a member of the cabinet in 1761. In 1762-63 he occupied the post of first lord
of the admiralty. In the latter year he was named prime minister, first lord of
the treasury, and chancellor of the Exchequer. During his administration, libel
proceedings were started against the popular member of Parliament John Wilkes
for his criticisms of King George III, and the Stamp Act, one of the chief
causes of friction between Great Britain and the American colonies, was
enacted. Grenville came into frequent conflict with the king, who dismissed him
in 1765. He was known in Parliament as the Gentle Shepherd after William Pitt
the Elder (Lord Chatham) recited the words of a popular song Gentle Shepherd,
tell me where! in reply to Grenville's querulous request that Parliament
direct him where to impose new taxes
The fifth PM was Rockingham, Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of
(1730-82), British statesman, born probably in London, and educated at the
University of Cambridge. A holder of several previous offices, he was made
prime minister in 1765. His government is best known for its repeal of the
Stamp Act and its passage of other measures to conciliate the American
colonies. In 1766 he resigned the ministry; for many years Rockingham was an
opponent of the policies of Lord North (prime minister from 1770 to 1782) and
King George III. These policies were antagonistic to the American colonies and
provoked the American Revolution (1775-83). Throughout North's ministry
Rockingham showed friendship for America. On the resignation of North in March
1782, following the surrender of the British forces in America, Rockingham
again became prime minister. He had begun peace negotiations with the American
colonists, four months after taking office, when he died.
The next PM after Rockingham was Pitt, William, 1st Earl of Chatham (1708-78),
prime minister of Great Britain (1766-1768), who led the country to victory
over France in the Seven Years' War.
Martynova Elena
Duke of Devonshire was the fifth Prime Minister of
Great Britain.
Thomas Pelham was born in London on 21 July 1693, the
elder of two sons and eighth of eleven children born
to Thomas Pelham and his wife Lady Grace Holles. He
was educated at Westminster School and Clare Hall
Cambridge, from where he matriculated (but did not
graduate) in 1710. Newcastle was the first PM to spend
his entire parliamentary career in the House of Lords,
having taken his seat shortly after his 21st birthday.
He added the name "Holles" in 1711 as required by the
will of his uncle John Holles, who left him the bulk
of his estates. Newcastle owned vast estates in eleven
counties which enabled him to influence elections in
many constituencies. Two of his boroughs were
Aldborough and Boroughbridge in Yorkshire. Newcastle
was very much in favour of the 1716 Septennial Act
because triennial elections were very expensive for
him.
In 1717 he married Lady Harriet Godolphin, the
daughter of the Duke of Marlborough. They had no
children, probably the result of physical injury
caused by Lady Harriet's miscarriage in 1718. His
connection with the Marlboroughs brought Newcastle
added prestige and influence; he became a Privy
Counsellor in 1717 and the same year stood as
Godfather to Prince George William, son of the Prince
of Wales. In 1718 he was created a Knight of the
Garter; in 1719 he was one of the thirteen Lords
Justices to whom the king left power when he returned
to Hanover. Newcastle continued to be influential in
government throughout the reign of George I.
In August 1743, Newcastle's brother, Henry Pelham,
became PM. The two brothers worked closely together
during ministry which ended with the sudden death of
Pelham. Newcastle was appointed PM in his brother's
place, just as Anglo-French relations in north America
were about to erupt into war. In 1756 the Seven Years'
War began: this conflict involved fighting in Europe,
India and north America. Newcastle attempted
unsuccessfully to persuade Pitt (the Elder) to join
his ministry and - having failed - tendered his
resignation. Devonshire formed a short ministry but
Newcastle returned to power in 1757 with Pitt as
Secretary of State for the Southern Department.
Pitt took over responsibility for the war which ended
in 1763. However, George II died in 1760 and was
replaced by his grandson, George III. The new king did
not trust Newcastle and attempted to limit the duke's
political influence by preventing him from using
public money to influence voters in the forthcoming
general election. Newcastle used his own money,
unaware that the Earl of Bute was using royal
patronage to strengthen his own support. Despite the
king's efforts, Newcastle and his followers won a
substantial majority. The king continued to manipulate
the appointment of the Earl of Bute to more important
positions in the Cabinet until Newcastle decided that
he could no longer continue in office. On Newcastle's
resignation in 1762, Bute became PM.
In October 1762, the Duke Thomas Pelham was born in
London on 21 July 1693, the elder of two sons and
eighth of eleven children born to Thomas Pelham and
his wife Lady Grace Holles. He was educated at
Westminster School and Clare Hall Cambridge, from
where he matriculated (but did not graduate) in 1710.
Newcastle was the first PM to spend his entire
parliamentary career in the House of Lords, having
taken his seat shortly after his 21st birthday. He
added the name "Holles" in 1711 as required by the
will of his uncle John Holles, who left him the bulk
of his estates. Newcastle owned vast estates in eleven
counties which enabled him to influence elections in
many constituencies. Two of his boroughs were
Aldborough and Boroughbridge in Yorkshire. Newcastle
was very much in favour of the 1716 Septennial Act
because triennial elections were very expensive for
him.
In 1717 he married Lady Harriet Godolphin, the
daughter of the Duke of Marlborough. They had no
children, probably the result of physical injury
caused by Lady Harriet's miscarriage in 1718. His
connection with the Marlboroughs brought Newcastle
added prestige and influence; he became a Privy
Counsellor in 1717 and the same year stood as
Godfather to Prince George William, son of the Prince
of Wales. In 1718 he was created a Knight of the
Garter; in 1719 he was one of the thirteen Lords
Justices to whom the king left power when he returned
to Hanover. Newcastle continued to be influential in
government throughout the reign of George I.
In August 1743, Newcastle's brother, Henry Pelham,
became PM. The two brothers worked closely together
during ministry which ended with the sudden death of
Pelham. Newcastle was appointed PM in his brother's
place, just as Anglo-French relations in north America
were about to erupt into war. In 1756 the Seven Years'
War began: this conflict involved fighting in Europe,
India and north America. Newcastle attempted
unsuccessfully to persuade Pitt (the Elder) to join
his ministry and - having failed - tendered his
resignation. Devonshire formed a short ministry but
Newcastle returned to power in 1757 with Pitt as
Secretary of State for the Southern Department.
Pitt took over responsibility for the war which ended
in 1763. However, George II died in 1760 and was
replaced by his grandson, George III. The new king did
not trust Newcastle and attempted to limit the duke's
political influence by preventing him from using
public money to influence voters in the forthcoming
general election. Newcastle used his own money,
unaware that the Earl of Bute was using royal
patronage to strengthen his own support. Despite the
king's efforts, Newcastle and his followers won a
substantial majority. The king continued to manipulate
the appointment of the Earl of Bute to more important
positions in the Cabinet until Newcastle decided that
he could no longer continue in office. On Newcastle's
resignation in 1762, Bute became PM.
In October 1762, the Duke of Devonshire was dismissed
from his post as Lord Chamberlain because the king
believed that he was acting under Newcastle's
influence. Newcastle was outraged and pressed his
supporters to resign in protest. Some of them did so,
therefore Bute retaliated by dismissing all those who
owed allegiance and their positions to the Duke of
Newcastle. This incident became known as the "Massacre
of the Pelhamite Innocents".
Newcastle found himself increasingly isolated. In
March 1764, his close friend Lord Harwicke died; this
blow was compounded by the death of the Duke of
Devonshire in October. Added to this, Newcastle's
political protege, the Marquis of Rockingham, was
becoming more independent. Rockingham formed his own
ministry in July 1765, appointing Newcastle as Lord
Privy Seal. Newcastle's hopes that he would continue
to be consulted as an "elder statesman" were dashed
when the marquis formulated his own policies.
Although continuing to sit in the House of Lords and
take an active part in the political life of the
country, Newcastle was becoming increasingly frail. In
December 1767 he decided to go to Bath to take the
waters, since he was suffering from a persistent cold
and cough. He possible suffered a stroke whilst in
Bath. He returned to Claremont, Surrey, but his
condition worsened. Newcastle died on 17 November 1768
at the age of 75.
was dismissed from his post as Lord Chamberlain
because the king believed that he was acting under
Newcastle's influence. Newcastle was outraged and
pressed his supporters to resign in protest. Some of
them did so, therefore Bute retaliated by dismissing
all those who owed allegiance and their positions to
the Duke of Newcastle. This incident became known as
the "Massacre of the Pelhamite Innocents".
Newcastle found himself increasingly isolated. In
March 1764, his close friend Lord Harwicke died; this
blow was compounded by the death of the Duke of
Devonshire in October. Added to this, Newcastle's
political protege, the Marquis of Rockingham, was
becoming more independent. Rockingham formed his own
ministry in July 1765, appointing Newcastle as Lord
Privy Seal. Newcastle's hopes that he would continue
to be consulted as an "elder statesman" were dashed
when the marquis formulated his own policies.
Although continuing to sit in the House of Lords and
take an active part in the political life of the
country, Newcastle was becoming increasingly frail. In
December 1767 he decided to go to Bath to take the
waters, since he was suffering from a persistent cold
and cough. He possible suffered a stroke whilst in
Bath. He returned to Claremont, Surrey, but his
condition worsened. Newcastle died on 17 November 1768
at the age of 75.
Elena
William CAVENDISH, 4th duke of DEVONSHIRE
b. 1720
d. October 3, 1764, Spa, Liege, Austrian Netherlands [now in Belgium]
Title: First Lord of the Treasury
Term: November 16, 1756 - July 1757
Commissioned: November 16, 1756 (1)
Other titles: Marquess of Hartington, Earl of Devonshire, Baron Cavendish of
Hardwick
Party: Whig
The Duke of Devonshire had no thirst at all for the heights of political
power, coming as he did from a powerful family. George II had to work hard
to persuade him to accept the position of Prime Minister. When he did, at
the age of 36, Pitt the Elder as Secretary of State was the de facto
premier. Devonshire resigned after a lacklustre 7 months.
After becoming lord lieutenant and governor-general of Ireland (1754),
William Cavendish succeeded to the dukedom (1755); and the following year he
agreed to become nominal prime minister. William Pitt had refused to serve
in the ministry of the Duke of Newcastle, and the great Whig families balked
at Pitt himself becoming prime minister. Thus, Devonshire was summoned to
the post, while Pitt became the ministry's real authority as secretary of
state to manage the Seven Years' War. When Pitt reconciled with Newcastle
the following year, Devonshire, without having made much of a mark on
events, resigned and became lord chamberlain of the household, a post he
held until 1762.
Ачкасов И.
