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Portrait of Duke of Newcastle

Prime Ministers · 18th century

Duke of Newcastle

1693–1768 · English

Whig

In office: 1754–1756; 1757–1762

Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle, was the great Whig patronage manager of the 18th century: Secretary of State for about 30 years, then twice First Lord of the Treasury, succeeding his brother Henry Pelham. His second ministry, in partnership with William Pitt the Elder, directed Britain's victories in the Seven Years' War before he was edged out by George III's favourite, Lord Bute.

How to spot them

  • ▸Brother of Henry Pelham; master of electoral patronage
  • ▸Loss of Minorca (1756); the Pitt–Newcastle ministry of the Seven Years' War
  • ▸Secretary of State from 1724 to 1754; sat in the House of Lords throughout his career
  • ▸Claremont (Esher) and Clumber Park; Chancellor of Cambridge University

In office

Secretary of State for three decades (1724–1754)

Served in the Walpole and Pelham governments before becoming First Lord of the Treasury

Loss of Minorca at the start of the Seven Years' War (1756)

The fall of Fort St Philip to the French brought down his first ministry and led to Admiral Byng's trial

The Pitt–Newcastle coalition (1757–1761)

He handled patronage and finance while Pitt directed the war

Resignation as Lord Bute's influence grew under George III (1762)

Left office over the ending of the Prussian subsidy and the drift to peace

Quick-fire facts

  • •Succeeded his younger brother Henry Pelham as First Lord of the Treasury in 1754
  • •As Lord Chamberlain from 1717 he was responsible for overseeing the theatres
  • •Gov.uk records that George II's poor English once led Newcastle to believe the King had challenged him to a duel
  • •Elected Chancellor of the University of Cambridge in 1748
  • •Served as Lord Privy Seal in Rockingham's first ministry (1765–66)

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Sources