Robert Walpole Biography

Birth of Robert Walpole

Walpole matriculates at King's College, Cambridge

Walpole is 1st elected to Parliament

Walpole is elected to Parliament for King's Lynn, elected every subsequent general election for the next 40 yrs

Walpole is elected to Parliament for King's Lynn, elected every subsequent general election for the next 40 yrs

Appointed Member of Council of the Lord High Admiral

Appointed Secretary of State for War, a close adviser of the Duke of Marlborough, commander of the War of the Spanish Succession

Appointed Treasurer of the Navy

Imprisoned by the Tories for corruption

Expelled from the Commons on the political charge of "venality" in the Naval Office

Walpole is expelled from Parliament. Impeached by the House of Commons for corruption as Secretary at War, found guilty & imprisoned

Appointed Paymaster of the Forces on the accession of George I

Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer

Extends the life of Parliament to 7 years

Introduces the sinking fund for reducing the national debt

Resigns over the dimissal of Charles Townshend

Appointed Paymaster of the Forces

Restores public confidence after collapse of the South Sea Company

Walpole helps design measures to restore confidence after the South Sea Bubble collapses.

The Bubble bursts & Walpole protects his own investments & those of the Royal Familly

Appointed First Lord of the Treasury

Appointed Paymaster General

Walpole's government restructures liabilities and restores confidence in British public credit.

Britains 1st Prime Minister

Britains 1st Prime Minister

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 1st term

Suspended due to fears of a Jacobite uprising

Instructed by George II to take orders from Spencer Compton

The Winner of the favor of George II when he increases the Civil List by œ100,000

Provides for an Anglo-Spanish truce

Disenfrachises the Irish Roman Catholics

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 2nd term

Taxation is shifted toward commodities. Land Tax is cut to 1 sh in the œ, a reduction of 3/4 from its peak

Taxation is shifted toward commodities

Taxation is shifted toward commodities

Signs the Treaty of Vienna supporting the success of Maria Theresa

Ends the Anglo-French entente. Charles VI gains support for his "pragmatic sanction" for the succession Maria Theresa

Drops scheme to impose internal tax rather than duties on tobacco & wine. Attempts to tackle smuggling

Wins his 3rd general election victory

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 3rd term

Death of Caroline of Ansbach, Walpole loses a very valuable ally in the Royal Court

Walpole marries his mistress Maria Skerret but she dies a few months later

Walpole marries his mistress, Maria Skerritt, who dies shortly thereafter during childbirth

Reluctantly declares war against Spain due to pressure from the City & the King. A state of war fever breaks out over "Jenkins ear"

Compromise settlement of commercial disputes with Spain

Declares war on Spain for breaches of the Pravdo Convention

1st to use the phrase "Balance of Power" to express the British foreign policy

1st to use the phrase "Balance of Power" to express the British foreign policy

Created Earl of Orford, 1st

Defeated in Parliament, as the King's servant in Parliament is forced to resign

Resigns as Prime Minister of Great Britain