The Whigs The Whigs ▼ Primary Sources ▼ The Whigs In the late 17th century the term Whig was used to describe those opposed to the religious policies of Charles II . In 1714 Queen Anne became very ill. The true heir to the throne was James Stuart , the son of James II . Many Tory ministers supported James becoming king. However, James Stuart was a Catholic and was strongly opposed by the Whigs . A group of Whigs visited Anne just before she died and persuaded her to sack her Tory ministers. With the support of the Whigs, Queen Anne nominated Prince George of Hanover as the next king of Britain. When George arrived in England, he knew little about British politics nor could he speak very much English. George therefore became very dependent on the Whigs who had arranged for him to become king. This included Robert Walpole who was made Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1715. Walpole was such a powerful figure in the government he became known as Prime Minister, the first in Britain's history. He was also given 10 Downing Street by Prince George , which became the permanent home of all future Prime Ministers.

Robert Walpole believed that the strength of a country depended on its wealth. The main objective of Walpole's policies was to achieve and maintain this wealth. For example, he helped the business community sell goods by removing taxes on foreign exports. Walpole did all he could to avoid war, as he believed it drained a country of its financial resources. However, in 1739 Britain became involved in a war with Spain. George II was in favour of the war and became Britain's last king to lead his troops into battle. Walpole, who thought the war was unnecessary, did not provide the dynamic leadership needed during a war. The Tory opposition accused Walpole of not supplying enough money for the British armed forces. Robert Walpole gradually lost the support of the House of Commons , and in February 1742 he was forced to resign from office. Charles Fox was one of the most important Whigs in the 18th century. After 1780 Fox became a supporter of parliamentary reform . He advocated the disfranchisement of rotten and pocket boroughs and the redistribution of these seats to the fast growing industrial towns.

When Lord Frederick North's government fell in March 1782, Fox became Foreign Secretary in Rockingham's Whig government. Fox left the government in July 1782, on the death of the Marquis of Rockingham as he was unwilling to serve under the new prime minister, Lord Sherburne. Sherburne appointed the twenty-three year old William Pitt as his Chanchellor of the Exchequer. Pitt had been a close political friend of Fox and after this the two men became bitter enemies. For a short period in 1783 the Duke of Portland became leader of the Whig administration. The Duke of Portland's government was concerned with the power of the East India Company and in 1783 Charles Fox attempted to persuade Parliament to pass a bill that would replace the company's directors with a board of commissioners. George III made it known to the House of Lords that he would consider anyone voting with the Bill an enemy. As a result of this interference, Portland's government resigned. When the French Revolution broke out in 1789 Charles Fox was initially enthusiastic describing it as the "greatest event that has happened in the history of the world".

He expected the creation of a liberal, constitutional monarchy and was horrified when King Louis XVI was executed. When war broke out between Britain and France in February 1793, Fox criticised the government and called for a negotiated end to the dispute. Although Fox's views were supported by the Radicals, many people regarded him as defeatist and unpatriotic. In April 1792, a group of pro-reform Whigs to form the Friends of the People . Three peers ( Lord Porchester , Lord Lauderdale and Lord Buchan ) and twenty-eight Whig MPs joined the group. Other leading members included Earl Grey , Richard Sheridan , Major John Cartwright , Lord John Russell , George Tierney,Thomas Erskine and Samuel Whitbr ead . The main objective of the the society was to obtain "a more equal representation of the people in Parliament" and "to secure to the people a more frequent exercise of their right of electing their representatives". Charles Fox was opposed to the formation of this group as he feared it would lead to a split the Whig Party. On 30th April 1792, Earl Grey introduced a petition in favour of constitutional reform.

He argued that the reform of the parliamentary system would remove public complaints and "restore the tranquillity of the nation". He also stressed that the Friends of the People would not become involved in any activities that would "promote public disturbances". Although Charles Fox had refused to join the Friends of the People , in the debate that followed, he supported Grey's proposals. When the vote was taken, Grey's proposals were defeated by 256 to 91 votes. On 6th May 1793, Earl Grey once again introduced a parliamentary reform bill. Grey argued that one of the basic principles established by the Glorious Revolution of 1688 was the freedom of elections to the House of Commons . Grey added that "a man ought not to be governed by laws, in the framing of which he had not a voice, either in person or by his representative, and that he ought not to be made to pay any tax to which he should not have consented in the same way." Grey also attacked William Pitt , the Prime Minister, for the way that he exploited the present system. Grey pointed out that Pitt had created 30 new peers who nominated or indirectly influenced the return of a total of 40 MPs.

Charles Fox and Richard Sheridan supported Grey in the debate that followed. Robert Jenkinson and Lord Mornington , spoke against. So also did William Pitt who argued that any reform at this time would give encouragement to the Radicals in Britain who were supporting the French Revolution . When the vote was taken, Grey's proposals were defeated by 282 to 41. Members of the Friends of the People now realised they had no chance of persuading the House of Commons to accept parliamentary reform and the group disbanded. In February, 1806 Lord Grenville was invited by the king to form a new Whig administration. Grenville, along with his Foreign Secretary, Charles Fox , were strong opponents of the slave trade . Grenville and Fox had both spoken against the trade in nearly all the debates on the subject since the first time it was discussed in the House of Commons in 1789. Grenville was determined to bring an end to British involvement in the slave trade. Fox and William Wilberforce led the campaign in the House of Commons , whereas Grenville, had the more difficult task of persuading the House of Lords to accept the measure.

Grenville made a passionate speech where he argued that the trade was "contrary to the principles of justice, humanity and sound policy" and criticised fellow members for "not having abolished the trade long ago". When the vote was taken the Abolition of the Slave Trade bill was passed in the House of Lords by 41 votes to 20. In the House of Commons it was carried by 114 to 15. Lord Grenville now turned his attention to Catholic Emancipation . However, with the death of Charles Fox in September, 1806, Grenville government was severely weakened. When George III rejected Grenville's attempt to bring an end to Catholic disabilities in March 1807, he resigned from office. Several attempts were made to persuade Grenville to return to government but he preferred to work from the backbenches. He continued to campaign against slavery and in 1815 argued against the Corn Laws . Grenville did support the introduction of the Six Acts and this led to Lord Liverpool offering his a place in his government. He refused and in 1823 a paralytic attack brought an end to his political career.

In June 1830 Earl Grey made an impressive speech on the need for parliamentary reform . The Duke of Wellington , the prime minister and leader of the Tories in Parliament, replied that the "existing system of representation was as near perfection as possible". It was now clear that the Tories would be unwilling to change the electoral system and that if people wanted reform they had to give their support to the Whigs . On 15th November, 1830 Wellington's government was defeated in a vote in the House of Commons . The new king, William IV , was more sympathetic to reform than his predecessor and decided to ask Earl Grey to form a government. As soon as Grey became prime minister he formed a cabinet committee to produce a plan for parliamentary reform. Details of the proposals were announced on 3rd February 1831. The bill was passed by the Commons by a majority of 136, but despite a powerful speech by Earl Grey, the bill was defeated in the House of Lords by forty-one. The defeat of the Reform Act resulted in Earl Grey calling a general election. The Whigs were popular with the electorate and after the election they had a larger majority than before in the House of Commons .

A second reform bill was also defeated in the House of Lords . When people heard the news, riots took place in several British towns. Nottingham Castle was burnt down and in Bristol the Mansion House was set on fire. In 1832 Earl Grey tried again but the House of Lords refused to pass the bill. Grey now appealed to William IV for help. He agreed to Grey's request to create a large number of new Whig peers. When the Lords heard the news, they agreed to pass the Reform Act . On 7th June the Bill received the Royal Assent and large crowds celebrated in the streets of Britain. Earl Grey now called another general election and in the new reformed House of Commons , Grey had a majority of over a hundred. The Whigs were now able to introduce and pass a series of reforming measures. This included an act for the abolition of slavery in the colonies and the 1833 Factory Act . After the passing of the 1834 Poor Law Earl Grey decided to resign from office. Lord Melbourne was asked to became prime minister. Melbourne was not an ambitious man and had to be persuaded to take the post.

William IV was now in a much stronger position and after four months the king dismissed the Whig government and appointed the Tory , Sir Robert Peel as his new prime minister. As there were more Whigs than Tories in the House of Commons , Sir Robert Peel found government very difficult. Peel was only able to pass legislation that was supported by the Whigs and on 8th April 1835 he resigned from office. William IV was forced to reappoint Lord Melbourne as his prime minister. Lord Melbourne was opposed to some of the measures being advocated by some of the more radical Whigs such as Lord John Russell and Henry Brougham . This included the proposal for the secret ballot and the idea of state education. Russell, the Home Secretary in Melbourne's government, did manage to introduce some progressive legislation. His first measure concerned the reform of local government. For many years most English towns had been under the control of a self-elected body of aldermen and councillors. Under the terms of the Municipal Corporations Act , these men now had to be elected by the whole body of ratepayers.

In 1836 Lord John Russell was responsible for several new reforms including the establishment of the civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths, and the legislation of the marriage of dissenters in their own chapels. The following year Russell proposed a bill that would reduce the number of offences to which capital punishment was applicable. William IV died in 1837. His replacement, the eighteen year old Queen Victoria , unlike William, was willing to listen to the advice of her prime minister. Melbourne, whose wife and only child had recently died, became her mentor. An apartment was made available for him at Windsor Castle and it was estimated that Melbourne spent six hours a day with Victoria. Her feelings for Melbourne were clearly expressed in her journal. On one occasion she wrote: "he is such an honest, good kind-hearted man and is my friend, I know it." Some people objected to this close relationship.

Melbourne's old friend, Thomas Barnes , the editor of The Times wrote "Is it for the Queen's service - is it for the Queen's dignity - is it becoming - is it commonly descent?" In the autumn of 1837 a rumour circulated that the 18 year old Victoria was considering marrying the 58 year old Melbourne. Queen Victoria wrote in her diary that she was growing very fond of Melbourne and loved listening to him talk: "Such stories of knowledge; such a wonderful memory; he knows about everybody and everything,; who they were and what they did. He has such a kind and agreeable manner; he does me the world of good." In 1839 Lord Melbourne resigned after a defeat in the House of Commons . Sir Robert Peel , the Tory leader, now became prime minister. It was the custom for the Queen's ladies of the bedchamber should be of the some political party as the government. Peel asked Victoria to replace the Whig ladies with Tory ladies. When Victoria refused, Peel resigned and Melbourne and the Whigs returned to office. Lord John Russell had for a long time been a advocate of reforming the Corn Laws . This eventually became the policy of Lord Melbourne's government.

However, when the proposed changes were defeated by thirty-six votes on 18th May, 1841, the government resigned. The following general election resulted in Sir Robert Peel becoming prime minister. Although Lord Russell was opposed to most of Peel's policies, he fully supported his plans to reform the Corn Laws . In a speech he made on 22nd November 1845, Russell called for a total repeal of the corn laws. Peel was also coming to the same conclusion and with Whig support, the corn laws were finally abolished on 26th June 1846. When Sir Robert Peel resigned the following month, Lord John Russell was asked to form a new government. Russell immediate problem was to deal with the potato famine in Ireland . Russell attempted to help by allocating £10 million to be spent on public works in Ireland. Russell also vigorously supported John Fielden in his campaign for factory reform. This resulted in the passing of the 1847 Factory Act . The following year he managed to persuade parliament to accept his government's Public Health Act that gave municipalities powers to set up local boards of health.

In December 1851 Lord John Russell sacked his foreign minister, Lord Palmerston , after he had recognised the government formed by Napoleon III in France without consulting with his fellow cabinet ministers. Palmerston gained revenge by proposing an amendment to the Militia Bill that was carried by eleven votes. As a result of this defeat Russell resigned and was replaced by the Earl of Derby . Lord John Russell returned to the government when Lord Aberdeen became prime minister in 1852. In December Russell brought before the cabinet a new parliamentary reform bill. Many members of the cabinet, including Lord Palmerston , disagreed with the measure and threatened to resign. Disappointed by the lack of support from his colleagues, Russell decided to leave office. Aberdeen's coalition government was very popular with the public at first. However, attitudes changed when Britain became involved in the Crimean War in 1854. Aberdeen was blamed for the mismanagement of the war and he was forced to resign in February 1855. The aristocratic connotations surrounding the Whig name caused some politicians to refer to themselves as Liberals , a term used by reforming politicians in Europe.

However, the term Liberal was not used officially until 1868 when William Gladstone became Prime Minister. Prime Ministers of Great Britain political party 1721-42 Sir Robert Walpole - Restored confidence in the country following the South Sea Bubble financial crash of 1720. Dominated the political scene during the reigns of George I and George II. George II made Walpole a gift of 10 Downing Street. Walpole resigned as a consequence of his perceived mis-handling in dealing with the War of Jenkins' Ear . Whig 1742-43 Earl of Wilmington - Suffering poor health for most of his time as Prime Minister, he died in office. Whig 1743-54 Henry Pelham - During his time in the post he oversaw the the British involvement in the War of the Austrian Succession in 1744-48, the 1745 Jacobite Rising and the adoption of the Gregorian calender . He died in office.

Whig 1754-56 Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle - Assumed the office of Prime Minister just 10 days after the death of his brother Henry Pelham. During the Seven Years' War, he was blamed for the loss of Minorca and was replaced by the Duke of Devonshire. Whig 1756-57 William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire - In a government effectively controlled by Pitt the Elder, Devonshire's administration was brought to end following the dismissal of Pitt by the king, it was replaced by the Second Newcastle Ministry. Whig 1757-62 Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle - Returning to office with Pitt the Elder as Southern Secretary, this government helped steer Britain to ultimate victory over France and Spain during the Seven Years' War. Whig 1762-63 John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute - A favourite of George III, he was the first Scot to hold the top office. Unpopular with the 'great unwashed', he introduced a tax on cider in order to help pay for the Seven Years' War. He resigned following fierce criticism of his handling of the peace negotiations.

Tory The Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, Viscount Melbourne 1828-30 Arthur Welleslley, 1st Duke of Wellington - The second Irish-born Prime Minister and second veteran general, perhaps more famous as a soldier of the Napoleonic Wars than a politician. Is said to have commented after his first Cabinet meeting: “An extraordinary affair. I gave them their orders and they wanted to stay and discuss them.” He introduced the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, removing many of the restrictions on Catholics in the UK. Resigned after a vote of no confidence. Tory 1830-34 Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey - Famous for the blend of tea named after him, his political achievements included the Reform Act of 1832, which started the process of electoral change that we recognise today. His other legacies included the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire and restrictions concerning the employment of children. He resigned after disagreements over his Irish policies. Whig 1834 William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne - The last Prime Minister to be dismissed by a Sovereign, King William IV.

Whig 1834-35 Sir Robert Peel 2nd Baronet - At the second time of asking, Peel accepted King William IV’s invitation to form a government. Head of a minority government, he resigned following a number of defeats in Parliament. Whig 1835-41 William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne - Returning to office for the second time, Melbourne found the new Queen Victoria much more agreeable than William IV. Tutoring the young queen in the ways of politics, they formed a close relationship. He resigned after a series of parliamentary defeats. Whig 1841-46 Sir Robert Peel 2nd Baronet - Returning to office for the second time, Peel introduced important employment laws that banned women and children from working underground in mines, in addition The Factory Act of 1844 limited the hours of work for children and women. Unable to feed a starving Ireland, he finally succeeded in repealing the Corn Laws. Conservative 1846-52 Lord John Russell, 1st Earl Russell - Russell was the last Whig Prime Minister. His Public Health Act of 1848 improved the sanitary conditions of towns and cities.

He was in office at the time of The Great Exhibition of 1851 . Whig 1852 Edward Smith Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby - Considered by many to be the father of the modern Conservative party, his government collapsed when the budget of his Chancellor, Benjamin Disraeli, was rejected by the house. Conservative 1852-55 George Hamilton Gordon, Earl of Aberdeen - A cousin of the poet Lord Byron, his government was dominated by a war with Russia. He resigned after losing a vote of confidence into his handling of the Crimean War. Peelite 1855-58 Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston - An Irish peer, his India Bill of 1858 transferred control of the East India Company to the Crown. Liberal 1858-59 Edward Smith Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby - Returning to office for the second time, his Jews Relief Act of 1858, removed barriers to Jews entering Parliament.

Conservative 1859-65 Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston - Returning to office for the second time, his ministry was dominated by the American Civil War and the resulting suffering caused by the Lancashire Cotton Famine . Hale and hearty to the end, he died in office at the tender age of just 81. Liberal 1865-66 Lord John Russell, 1st Earl Russell - Returning to office for the second time, after the untimely death of Palmerston. Liberal 1866-68 Edward Smith Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby - Returning to office for the third and final time, his Reform Act of 1867 doubled the number of adult males that could vote in England and Wales. Conservative Lord Palmerston, Benjamin Disraeli, W E Gladstone 1868 Benjamin Disraeli - Just 10 years after the barriers to Jews entering Parliament had been removed, Britain has its first, and so far only, Jewish Prime Minister. In accepting the post, 'Dizzy' is said to have declared, “I have climbed to the top of the greasy pole”.

Conservative 1868-74 William Ewart Gladstone - Gladstone led the greatest reforming administrations of the 19th century. His policies were intended to improve individual liberty by scrapping barriers to freedom and personal advancement. A heavy defeat at the 1874 general election allowed his arch-rival Disraeli to once again reach the top of the greasy pole. Liberal 1874-80 Benjamin Disraeli, the Earl of Beaconsfield - Returning to office for the second time at the age of 70, his policies introduced a large amount of social legislation, including providing housing for the poor and greatly improved sanitation. His relationship with Queen Victoria helped to return her to public life, proclaiming her Empress of India. Anglo-Zulu Wars . Conservative 1880-85 William Ewart Gladstone - Gadstone's second administration suffered a number of set-backs in foreign policy, including a humiliating defeat in the First Boer War and failing to rescue General Gordon in Sudan.

Liberal 1885-86 Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury - Salisbury became leader of the Conservative party following the death of Disraeli in 1881, he reluctantly became Prime Minister and formed a minority government. Conservative 1886 William Ewart Gladstone - Now aged 76, Gladstone's introduction of a Home Rule Bill for Ireland split the Liberal Party. Liberal 1886-92 Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury - With the split in the Liberal Party, Salisbury attempted to contain the Irish problem by a combination of firm government and reform. Creation of Rhodesia , modern day Zimbabwe, with its capital city named Salisbury. Conservative 1892-94 William Ewart Gladstone - Now well into his 80s, this 'Grand Old Man' of British politics was returned to office for a fourth term and once again introduced the Irish Home Rule Bill. Although passed by the House of Commons, the bill was rejected by the Lords. Gladstone submitted his fourth and final resignation.

Liberal 1894-95 Archibold Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery - Reluctantly accepted the post of Prime Minister following the resination of Gladstone. In a short lived administration plagued by Cabinet disputes, he resigned having achieved his lifes three ambitions... to marry an heiress, own a Derby winning horse and to be Prime Minister. Liberal 1895-1902 Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury - Returned to office for the third and final time. During his tenure the Boer War broke out in 1899, ending in 1902. He retired in favour of his nephew Balfour. Conservative Lord Salisbury, Arthur James Balfour, H H Asquith 1902-05 Arthur James Balfour - His Education Act of 1902 standardised the educational system of England and Wales, handing powers from school boards to Local Education Authorities (LEAs). His cabinet split on the issue of free trade policies.

Conservative 1905-08 Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman - Glasgow born 'C-B' was the first in the top job to be given the official title of ‘Prime Minister’. Outspoken on the 'barbarities' of the Boer War, he restored independence to the Transvaal and Orange Free State in South Africa. Liberal 1908-15 Herbert Henry Asquith - Asquith became Prime Minister following the resignation of 'CB'. He took charge in troubled times, with Irish Home Rule and Women’s Suffrage the burning issues of the day. The Old Age Pension Act of 1908 laid the foundation of the modern welfare state. This was followed by the National Insurance Act of 1911, that provided an income for working people suffering illness or unemployment. He also led Britain into the First World War . Liberal 1915-16 Herbert Henry Asquith - In order to gain maximum support for the ongoing war Asquith formed a coalition government. The conflict however, was not going well and so with deadlock in the trenches, Asquith resigned.

coalition 1916-22 David Lloyd George - The only Prime Minister to have spoken Welsh as his first language, Lloyd George accepted an invitation to form a government following the resignation of his fellow Liberal, Asquith. A man of great energy and dynamism, he was widely touted as the man who had won the war and promised... ‘a land fit for heroes’. The Anglo-Irish Treaty led to the establishment of the Irish Free State. The public outcry that followed his 'cash for honours' scandal saw him ousted from power. coalition 1922-23 Andrew Bonar Law - After Lloyd George had been removed from office by the Conservative members of his cabinet, the king invited the Canadian-born Bonar Law to form a new government. He lasted just 209 days in office before resigning due to ill health and died just 6 months later. Conservative 1923-24 Stanley Baldwin - Just a few months into office and much to the surprise of all around him, Baldwin called an early general election on the issue of protectionist trade tariffs.

The policy was an attempt to resolve Britain's economic problems, it achieved however, the remarkable feat of reuniting the Liberals and letting Labour into power for the first time. Conservative 1924 James Ramsay MacDonald - The very first Labour Prime Minister, MacDonald came from a Scottish working class background. As head of a minority government, he was reliant on the support of the Liberals. Frustrated by his inability to introduce meaningful legislation he called an early election. Labour 1924-29 Stanley Baldwin - In his second term in office, Baldwin was responsible for several notable social achievements including extending the right to vote to women aged over 21. He amazed the political world by inviting Winston Churchill, who at that time was a Liberal MP, to be his Chancellor of the Exchequer. He successfully steered the country through the rocky waters of the General Strike of 1926. Conservative 1929-31 Ramsey MacDonald - In his second minority government, MacDonald appointed the first ever female minister, Margaret Bondfield.

Just a few months into his term however, the world was shaken by the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Labour 1931-35 Ramsey MacDonald - With his Labour government divided on how to resolve an economic crisis that included the doubling of unemployment levels; MacDonald resigned but was reappointed at the head of a national coalition government (with support from the Conservative and Liberal parties). This move cost him the support of his own party and he once again resigned national coalition 1935-37 Stanley Baldwin - Returning to office for the third time, his major achievement in this last phase of his career was to steer the country through the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936. Recognising the threat of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany, Baldwin started a programme of re-arming the country. He was later criticised for not doing more to prepare. Conservative Lloyd George, Stanley Baldwin, Sir Winston Churchill 1937-40 Neville Chamberlain - When Baldwin retired after the coronation of George VI, Chamberlain was the obvious choice for leader of the party. Following a meeting with Adolf Hitler in Munich 1938, he famously returned declaring “I believe it is peace for our time”.

Following the invasion of Poland, Chamberlain declared war on Germany on 3 September, 1939 . Conservative 1940-45 Sir Winston Churchill - Following Chamberlain's resignation, Churchill was appointed as Prime Minister of an all-party coalition government. The speeches he made through his first summer in charge established a policy of 'no surrender', and the subsequent military alliances that he formed with both the USA and Soviet Union steered the Allies to victory in World War II. Shortly after VE Day , Churchill was surprisingly defeated in a General Election. coalition 1945-51 Clement Attlee - After leading Labour to a landslide victory, Attlee quickly set about implementing his parties manifesto pledges. With the country effectively bankrupt, he Labour List of British Prime Ministers Home » Politics , Prime Ministers » List of British Prime Ministers List of British Prime Ministers Please find enclosed a full list of British Prime Ministers :- Click here to download a pdf file user friendly copy of the information below which you can save to your computer, print off, send to friends, etc.

Sir Robert Walpole 1721 – 1742 Whig Party The Earl of Wilmington 1742 – 1743 Whig Party Henry Pelham 1743 – 1754 Whig Party The Duke of Newcastle 1754 – 1756 Whig Party The Duke of Devonshire 1756 – 1757 Whig Party The Duke of Newcastle 1757 – 1762 Whig Party The Earl of Bute 1762 – 1763 Tory Party George Grenville 1763 – 1765 Whig Party The Marquess of Rockingham 1765 – 1766 Whig Party The Earl of Chatham 1766 – 1768 Whig Party “William Pitt the Elder” The Duke of Grafton 1768 – 1770 Whig Party Lord North 1770 – 1782 Tory Party The Marquess of Rockingham 1782 – 1782 Whig Party The Earl of Shelburne 1782

 – 1783 Whig Party The Duke of Portland 1783 – 1783 Whig Party William Pitt The Younger 1783 – 1801 Tory Party Henry Addington 1801 – 1804 Tory Party William Pitt The Younger 1804 – 1806 Tory Party The Lord Grenville 1807 – 1809 Tory Party The Duke of Portland 1807 – 1809 Tory Party Spencer Perceval 1809 – 1812 Tory Party The Earl of Liverpool 1812 – 1827 Tory Party George Canning 1827 – 1827 Tory Party The Viscount Goderich 1827 – 1828 Tory Party The Duke of Wellington 1828 – 1830 Tory Party The Earl Grey 1830 – 1834 Whig Party The Viscount Melbourne 1834 – 1834 Whig Party The Duke of Wellington 1834 – 1834 Tory Party Sir Robert Peel 1

834 – 1835 Tory Party The Viscount Melbourne 1835 – 1841 Whig Party Sir Robert Peel 1841 – 1846 Tory Party The Lord John Russell 1846 – 1852 Whig Party The Earl of Derby 1852 – 1852 Tory Party The Earl of Aberdeen 1852 – 1855 Peelite / Whig The Viscount Palmerston 1855 – 1858 Whig Party The Earl of Derby 1858 – 1859 Tory Party The Viscount Palmerston 1859 – 1865 Liberal Party The Earl Russell 1865 – 1866 Liberal Party The Earl of Derby 1866 – 1868 Tory Party Benjamin Disraeli 1868 – 1868 Tory Party William Ewart Gladstone 1868 – 1874 Liberal Party Benjamin Disraeli 1874 – 1880 Tory Party William Ewart Gladstone 1880 – 1885 Liberal

 Party The Marquess of Salisbury 1885 – 1886 Tory Party William Ewart Gladstone 1886 – 1886 Liberal Party The Marquess of Salisbury 1886 – 1892 Tory Party William Ewart Gladstone 1892 – 1894 Liberal Party The Earl of Rosebery 1894 – 1895 Liberal Party The Marquess of Salisbury 1895 – 1902 Tory Party Arthur Balfour 1902 – 1905 Tory Party Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman 1905 – 1908 Liberal Party H H Asquith 1908 – 1916 Liberal Party David Lloyds George 1916 – 1922 Liberal Party Andrew Bonar Law 1922 – 1923 Tory Party Stanley Baldwin 1923 – 1924 Tory Party Ramsey MacDonald 1924 – 1924 Labour Party Stanley Baldwin 1924 – 1929 Tory Party Ramsey MacDonald 1929 – 1

931 Labour Party Ramsey MacDonald 1931 – 1935 National Labour Party Stanley Baldwin 1935 – 1937 Tory Party Neville Chamberlain 1937 – 1940 Tory Party Winston Churchill 1940 – 1945 Tory Party Clement Attlee 1945 – 1951 Labour Party Winston Churchill 1951 – 1955 Tory Party Sir Anthony Eden 1955 – 1957 Tory Party Harold Macmillan 1957 – 1963 Tory Party Alec Douglas-Home 1963 – 1964 Tory Party Harold Wilson 1964 – 1970 Labour Party Edward Heath 1970 – 1974 Tory Party Harold Wilson 1974 – 1976 Labour Party James Callaghan 1976 – 1979 Labour Party Margaret Thatcher 1979 – 1990 Tory Party John Major 1990 – 1997 Tory Party Tony Blair 1997 – 2007 Labour Party Gordon Brown

 2007 – 2010 Labour Party David Cameron 2010 – 2015 Coalition Party (Conservatives and Liberal Democrats) David Cameron 2015 – 2016 Tory Party Theresa May 2016 – Date Tory Party History of Lord John Russell, 1st Earl Russell - GOV.UK GOV.UK Lord John Russell, 1st Earl Russell Whig 1865 to 1866, 1846 to 1852 Born 18 August 1792, Mayfair, London Died 28 May 1878, Richmond Park, London Dates in office 1865 to 1866, 1846 to 1852 Political party Factory Act 1847: limitations on factory working hours.

Public Health Act 1848: improving the sanitary conditions of towns and populous places. Interesting facts He was the last Whig Prime Minister. Charles Dickens dedicated the novel, A Tale of Two Cities, to him, “In remembrance of many public services and private kindnesses.” “I have made mistakes, but in all I did my object was the public good.” Lord John Russell, later Earl Russell, was the principal architect of the Great Reform Act in 1832, and was one of the main promoters of parliamentary reform in the nineteenth century. As Home Secretary, he reduced the number of criminal offences punishable by death, so that only murder and high treason could be punished by execution. Russell was shy, vain and uninterested in cultivating the rapidly expanding media. This made his governments easy targets for radical critics who condemned his 1846 to 1852 ministry as aristocratic and out of touch.

Question: Who was the last Whig Prime Minister of the UK?
Answer: Lord John RUSSELL