Genius Fan

Eighteenth Century British Prime Minister No.4

Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle
Prime Minister: 1754-1756 & 1757-1762
Political faction: Whig
Predecessor: Henry Pelham
[Life: 21 July, 1693 – 17 November March, 1768]

Click to read Overview of ‘PMs on the Pan‘

‘PM on the Pan’ Take Aways

• Menorca: The Mediterranean island of Menorca, of great strategic importance to Britain, was lost to the French in 1756. The British navy’s Admiral Byng was blamed, Newcastle turned his back on him and joined the criticism which led to him being executed by firing squad. Few people came out looking good from this event. This brought his administration to an end. But before that…
• 1724-1754: Newcastle was foreign secretary and very good at it.
• 1754-1756: He became the fourth Prime Minister of the Eighteenth century at the age of 60, but he took the top job after the existing PM died in office – that was his younger brother, Henry Pelham.
• Reputation: Jeremy Black’s short biography of Newcastle suggests he was ambitious and neurotic.
• Nickname: The Museum of the Prime Minister says his nickname was Hubble Bubble, apparently reflecting neurotic and confused behaviour.
• Correspondence: Newcastle wrote a huge amount of letters which he didn’t destroy after he left office, so there’s a huge archive giving ginormous insight into his administration and this time.
• Administration highlight: Newcastle’s administration is remembered primarily for drifting into the Seven Years War 1756-1763 (in America, known as the French and Indian War).
• November 1756: Newcastle resigns as PM.

Check out my PMs on the Pan series of posts
1. First PM Sir Robert Walpole
2. Second PM Earl of Wilmington
3. Third PM Henry Pelham
4A. Fourth PM (1st Administration) Duke of Newcastle
5. Fifth PM Duke of Devonshire
4B. Fourth PM (2nd Administration) Duke of Newcastle
6. Sixth PM Earl of Bute
7. Seventh PM George Grenville

Notes
The Prime Ministers, Iain Dale (2020) (article by Jeremy Black)