Pitt–Newcastle ministry

Pitt–Newcastle ministry
Pitt the Elder (above) and the Duke of Newcastle (bottom)

The Pitt–Newcastle ministry consisted of two British governments which served between 1757 and 1762, at the height of the Seven Years' War.[1] They were headed by Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle, who was serving in his second term as Prime Minister. The most influential and famous figure in each government was William Pitt, who served as Secretary of State. The first Pitt–Newcastle ministry lasted from 1757 to the May 1761 general election and the second from May 1761 to 1762, notwithstanding Pitt's resignation from the Cabinet in October 1761.

The ministry ended a period of political instability, when Britain had struggled in the war. Pitt was a strong war leader, but lacked the support in parliament necessary to provide effective leadership. Newcastle provided this, as he has a strong base of support in the House of Commons. They divided duties between them: Pitt directed defence and foreign policy, while Newcastle controlled the nation's finances and patronage.

The ministry was very successful leading Britain to many victories in the war, particularly in the so-called Annus Mirabilis of 1759, which put the country in an immensely strong position by 1761. That year Pitt resigned over a dispute concerning the entry of Spain into the war. The ministry had been under pressure since the death of the old King with the accession of King George III, who disliked both Pitt and Newcastle and favoured John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute. Bute had joined the Cabinet as Northern Secretary in March 1761, and following Pitt's resignation the second ministry was sometimes referred to as the Bute–Newcastle coalition.[1][2]

In 1762 Newcastle was forced to resign and was replaced by Bute, this is traditionally considered the moment the ministry collapsed.[3]

The Ministry

It is unclear who was member of the ministry.

Office Name Term
 The Duke of Newcastle 1757–1762
Hon. Henry Bilson Legge 1757–1761
The Viscount Barrington 1761–1762
Lord Chancellor[6] Sir Robert Henley, to 1761 as Lord Keeper; from 1760 The Lord Henley 1757–1762
Lord President of the Council[7]| The Earl Granville 1757–1762
Lord Privy Seal[8] The Earl Temple 1757–1761
In commission 1761
The Duke of Bedford 1761–1762
Leader of the House of Commons William Pitt the Elder 1757–1761
George Grenville, also Treasurer of the Navy 1761–1762
Secretary of State for the Southern Department[9] William Pitt the Elder 1757–1761
The Earl of Egremont 1761–1762
Secretary of State for the Northern Department[9] The Earl of Holderness 1757–1761
The Earl of Bute 1761–1762
Master-General of the Ordnance[10] The Duke of Marlborough 1757–1758
Vacant 1758–1759
The Viscount Ligonier 1759–1762
First Lord of the Admiralty[11] The Lord Anson 1757–1762
Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland[12] The Duke of Argyll 1757–1761
The Duke of Queensberry and Dover 1761–1762
Lord Chamberlain of the Household[13] The Duke of Devonshire 1757–1762
Lord Steward of the Household The Duke of Rutland 1757–1761
The Earl Talbot 1761–1762
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster The Lord Edgcumbe 1757–1758
The Earl of Kinnoull 1758/59[14]–1762
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland The Duke of Bedford 1757–1761
The Earl of Halifax 1761–1762
Master of the Horse[15] The Earl Gower 1757–1760
The Earl of Huntingdon 1760–1761
The Duke of Rutland 1761–1762
Paymaster of the Forces The Lord Holland 1757–1765

See also

References

Bibliography

Preceded by
Caretaker ministry		 Government of Great Britain
1757–1762 		Succeeded by
Bute ministry
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