Henry Pelham
Third prime minister of Great Britain, brother of the Duke of Newcastle.
Henry Pelham (25 September 1694 – 6 March 1754) was a British Whig politician and Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1743 until his death. He was the younger sibling of Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle, who held a position in Pelham’s government and later took over as prime minister. Pelham is widely regarded as Britain’s third prime minister, following Robert Walpole and the Earl of Wilmington.
Pelham’s time in office was fairly quiet on the domestic front, though it did include the upheaval of the 1745 Jacobite rising. In foreign policy, Britain was involved in several wars. Near the end of his tenure, he oversaw the Jewish Naturalization Act 1753, which let Jews apply to Parliament for naturalization, and the Marriage Act 1753, which set a minimum age of consent for marriage. After Pelham died, his brother Newcastle assumed full control of the government.
Pelham was the younger son of Thomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham, and Grace Pelham, Baroness Pelham of Laughton, daughter of Gilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of Clare, and Grace Pierrepont. His father died when Pelham was twelve, leaving him £5,000 and small life annuities, while most of the estate went to his older brother, the Duke of Newcastle. He was educated at Westminster School, entered King’s College, Cambridge at Easter 1709, and then moved to Hart Hall, Oxford (now Hertford College), matriculating on 6 September 1710 after his tutor Richard Newton became Principal of Hart Hall.
As a volunteer, Pelham served in Dormer’s regiment at the Battle of Preston in 1715 and spent time on the Continent. His brother, the Duke of Newcastle, secured his election as Member of Parliament for Seaford in Sussex at a by-election on 28 February 1717, a seat he held until 1722. He gave his first speech in the House of Commons on 20 May 1720, supporting a motion to discharge the civil list debt, which both Pelham and Walpole backed. On 15 March 1721, he helped Walpole secure the acquittal of the Earl of Sunderland on bribery charges. His first official post was Treasurer of the Chamber in 1720, obtained through his brother’s influence. Both Pelham and Newcastle lost £2,000 in the South Sea Bubble.
Thanks to strong family connections and a recommendation from Robert Walpole, Pelham was chosen as a Lord of the Treasury in 1721. At the 1722 general election, he was returned as MP for Sussex county. In 1724, he be
- born
- 25 September 1694
- died
- 6 March 1754
- field
- Politics
- nationality
- British
- known_for
- Prime Minister of Great Britain (1743–1754)
Lore & Background
Henry Pelham was the younger son of Thomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham, and his wife Grace Pelham. His father died when he was twelve, and he inherited £5,000 and small annuities, while a large part of the estate went to his elder brother. He was educated at Westminster School and matriculated at King's College, Cambridge, later migrating to Hart Hall, Oxford. He served as a volunteer at the Battle of Preston in 1715 and was returned as Member of Parliament for Seaford in Sussex in 1717 through his brother's influence. Pelham made his first speech in the House of Commons on 20 May 1720 and held positions including Treasurer of the Chamber, Lord of the Treasury, Secretary at War, and Paymaster of the Forces. He supported Robert Walpole on the excise question and served as a founding governor of the Foundling Hospital in 1739. Pelham was an active freemason of the Premier Grand Lodge of England.
Reader's Guide
Henry Pelham's premiership was relatively uneventful in domestic affairs, though it included the 1745 Jacobite uprising. In foreign affairs, Britain fought in several wars. Pelham carried on the War of the Austrian Succession with languor and indifferent success, but the country acquiesced in his foreign policy. He forced Lord Carteret out of the ministry in 1744 and shared power with his brother, the Duke of Newcastle. Pelham's final acts included the Jewish Naturalization Act 1753 and the Marriage Act 1753. He reduced military spending, reorganized the Royal Navy, and lowered the land tax. His economic reforms included reducing interest rates and assisting a fund to reduce the national debt. The Gin Act 1751 addressed social problems from widespread drunkenness. Pelham's death led to his brother Newcastle taking full control of the government.
Did You Know?
- Pelham inherited £5,000 and small annuities for life after his father died when he was 12.
- He served as a volunteer at the Battle of Preston in 1715.
- Pelham and his brother lost £2,000 in the South Sea Bubble.
- He was a founding governor of the Foundling Hospital in 1739.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Henry Pelham?
Henry Pelham was a British Whig politician who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1743 until his death in 1754. He is generally counted as the third person to hold that office, following Robert Walpole and the Earl of Wilmington.
What was Henry Pelham's role in government?
As Prime Minister, Pelham led the British cabinet through a period marked by the 1745 Jacobite rising and Britain's involvement in continental wars. His domestic governance was comparatively uneventful, but he kept a stable Whig administration in place throughout his tenure.
How does Henry Pelham's story end?
Pelham died in office on 6 March 1754, bringing his eleven-year premiership to a close. His elder brother, the Duke of Newcastle, who had already been serving in his government, subsequently assumed the role of prime minister.
Why is Henry Pelham important in British political history?
He is recognised as the third prime minister of Great Britain and is noted for steering the country through the Jacobite threat of 1745 while managing Britain's commitments in foreign wars. His steady, low-profile leadership helped consolidate the Whig political order of the mid-eighteenth century.
What is Henry Pelham's connection to the Duke of Newcastle?
Henry was the younger brother of Thomas Pelham-Holles, the 1st Duke of Newcastle, who occupied a senior post in Pelham's cabinet. After Henry's death, the Duke of Newcastle effectively took over as prime minister, making the pair the only siblings to both lead the British government.
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