Prime Ministers · 18th century

Earl of Bute

1713–1792 · Scottish

Tory

In office: 1762–1763

John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, was George III's former tutor and closest confidant, and the first Scot to become Prime Minister. In less than a year in office he made the Treaty of Paris ending the Seven Years' War, but the peace terms, a new cider tax and anti-Scottish feeling made him deeply unpopular, and he resigned in 1763.

How to spot them

▸First Scottish Prime Minister; George III's tutor and 'dearest friend'
▸Treaty of Paris 1763 ending the Seven Years' War
▸The Cider Tax; attacked by John Wilkes's The North Briton
▸Botanist involved in developing Kew Gardens; the plant genus Stewartia

In office

Treaty of Paris ending the Seven Years' War (1763)

Britain gained Canada, Florida and much else, but critics said too much was handed back

The Cider Tax (1763)

A duty of 4 shillings a hogshead that provoked riots in the West Country

Target of John Wilkes's newspaper The North Briton (1762–1763)

Founded to answer The Briton, the pro-government paper edited by Tobias Smollett

Tutor and favourite of the young George III (1750s–1760s)

Rose rapidly after George's accession in 1760 despite having little parliamentary experience

Adviser to Princess Augusta in developing the botanic garden at Kew (1750s–1760s)

A serious amateur botanist who helped build up the gardens

Quick-fire facts

•The first Scot to become Prime Minister
•Rumours of an affair with George III's mother, Princess Augusta, were lampooned with the symbol of a jackboot and a petticoat
•Resigned in April 1763 but was suspected of continuing to influence the King 'behind the curtain'
•Bought the Luton Hoo estate in Bedfordshire
•The camellia relative Stewartia is named in his honour

Drill it — 6 cards

1 / 6new card

Sources

GOV.UK — Past Prime Ministers: John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute
Oxford University Press — Oxford Dictionary of National Biography