Henry Pelham Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

The Rt Hon. Henry Pelham

Term:	27 August 1743-6 March 1754
Predecessor:	The Earl of Wilmington
Successor:	The Duke of Newcastle
Date of Birth:	25 September 1694
Place of Birth:	Laughton, Sussex
Date of Death:	6 March 1754
Place of Death:	London
Political Party:	Whig

Henry Pelham (September 25, 1694 - March 6, 1754) was Prime Minister of Great Britain from February 14, 1743 to his death. Pelham was the younger brother of Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle, and a younger son of Thomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham of Laughton and of Lady Grace Holles, daughter of the 3rd Earl of Clare. He was educated by a private tutor and at Christ Church, Oxford, which he entered in July 1710. As a volunteer he served in Dormer's regiment at the battle of Preston in 1715, spent some time on the Continent, and in 1717 entered Parliament for Seaford in Sussex which he represented until 1722.

Through strong family influence and the recommendation of Walpole he was chosen in 1721 a lord of the Treasury. The following year he was returned for Sussex county. In 1724 he entered the ministry as secretary of war, but this office he exchanged in 1730 for the more lucrative one of paymaster of the forces. He made himself conspicuous by his support of Walpole on the question of the excise, and in 1743 a union of parties resulted in the formation of an administration in which Pelham was prime minister, with the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer; but rank and influence made his brother, the Duke of Newcastle, very powerful in the cabinet, and, in spite of a genuine attachment, there were occasional disputes between them, which led to difficulties.

Being strongly in favour of peace, Pelham carried on the War of the Austrian Succession with languor and indifferent success, but the country, wearied of the interminable struggle, was disposed to acquiesce in his foreign policy almost without a murmur. King George II, thwarted in his own favourite schemes, made overtures in 1746 to Lord Bath, but his purpose was upset by the resignation of the two Pelhams (Henry and Newcastle), who, however, at the King's request, resumed office. Pelham remained prime minister till his death, when his brother succeeded him.

His very defects were among the chief elements of Pelham's success, for one with a strong personality, moderate self-respect, or high conceptions of statesmanship could not have restrained the discordant elements of the cabinet for any length of time. Moreover, he possessed tact and a thorough acquaintance with the forms of the House of Commons. Whatever quarrels or insubordination might exist within the cabinet, they never broke out into open revolt. Nor can a high degree of praise be denied to his financial policy, especially his plans for the reduction of the national debt and the simplification and consolidation of its different branches.

Pelham had married in 1726 Lady Catherine Manners, daughter of the John Manners, 2nd Duke of Rutland; and one of his daughters married Henry Fiennes Pelham-Clinton, 2nd Duke of Newcastle.

Preceded by: Thomas Trevor	Secretary at War 1724-1730	Followed by: Sir William Strickland
Preceded by: The Lord Wilmington	Paymaster of the Forces 1730-1743	Followed by: Thomas Winnington
Preceded by: The Earl of Wilmington	Prime Minister of Great Britain 1743-1754	Followed by: The Duke of Newcastle
Preceded by: Samuel Sandys	Chancellor of the Exchequer 1743-1754	Followed by: Henry Bilson Legge
	Leader of the House of Commons 1743-1754	Followed by: Thomas Robinson

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