Resignation of Robert Walpole
Resigns over the dimissal of Charles Townshend
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1717 in Great Britain
Explore 20 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1717.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1717
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 20 of 20 unique records.
20Unique records
1 of 1Page
20Named events on this page
6Named people on this page
2Places on this page
April
August
Treaty of Triple Alliance
The Stuart Pretender should leave France as soon as the Treaty is signed. The fortifications of Dunkirk & Mardyk should be destroyed. Rebel subjects from Britain, France or Holland are not allowed asylum. France, Britain & Holland sign the Triple Alliance. France, Britain & Holland should support the articles of Utrecht
December
Guinea Valuation
A royal proclamation adopts Newton's recommended valuation of the guinea at 21 shillings, overvaluing gold relative to silver and moving Britain toward a de facto gold standard.
Other events (month unknown)
Act of Grace
Under the Act of Grace a general pardon is issued to all Jacobites
Alliance Britain and Holland
Secures an alliance of Britain & Holland against Russia after the dismissal of Walpole. After the dismissal of Walpole secures an alliance of Britain & France against Russia
Budget
Introduces the sinking fund for reducing the national debt
Collected Works Includes Eloisa
Pope's published Works contained his poem Eloisa to Abelard.
Dismissal
Secures an alliance of Britain & Holland against Russia after the dismissal of Walpole. Aids Sunderland & Stanhope in ousting Walpole
Elegy to Unfortunate Lady Appears
The Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady appeared among Pope's poems.
Elegy to Unfortunate Lady Published
Pope included Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady in his published collection of poems.
Eloisa to Abelard Published
Pope published Eloisa to Abelard in his collected Works, exploring forbidden love through heroic couplets.
Guinea Proclamation
A royal proclamation fixes the guinea at 21 shillings following Newton's recommendation.
Pardon
Under the Act of Grace a general pardon is issued to all Jacobites
Stanhope Becomes Chancellor Of Exchequer
Stanhope became Chancellor of the Exchequer during a ministerial reorganisation.
Stanhope Emerges As Leading Minister
Stanhope became one of the principal figures in government following the division of the Whig leadership.
Stanhope Raised To Viscountcy
Stanhope was created Viscount Stanhope of Mahon and Baron Stanhope of Elvaston.
Triple Alliance
Abandons the Swedish alliance to protect George Is electoral interests
Walpole Proposes National Debt Sinking Fund
Walpole developed a sinking fund intended to help reduce the outstanding national debt.
Walpole Resigns During Whig Split
Walpole resigned his offices amid divisions between the king's ministers and Charles Townshend.
Works Collection Issued
Pope's collected Works brought together many of his early poems and reinforced his literary standing.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.