Henry Pelham was educated by a private tutor and then went to Hart Hall, which was later Hertford College, Oxford, and finally to Christ College, Oxford. He served in the army as a volunteer in Dormer’s Regiment at the Battle of Preston in 1715 and spent some time serving in Europe.

He became the MP for Seaford, Sussex in 1717. He was a supporter of Robert Walpole. Through him Pelham became Lord of the Treasury in 1721 and Secretary for War in 1724 and Paymaster to the Forces in 1730. In 1726 Henry Pelham married Lady Catherine Manners the daughter of the Duke of Rutland.

In 1744 Robert Clive began working as a civil servant for the East India Company in Madras and in the same year Alexander Pope died.

When Robert Walpole resigned as Prime Minister in 1742 Pelham refused to take over. However, when the short Premiership of Spencer Compton ended in death, Henry Pelham did become Prime Minister and held that office until 1754. He headed a government which included his brother, the Duke of Newcastle and John Carteret, who was King George II’s favourite. It was a very stable government for 11 years.

The War of the Austrian Succession ended on 18th. October 1748 and Pelham was one of the signatories at the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle, bringing peace with France. This war had been very expensive for the country and Pelham cut down the armed forces after it. He also reduced the Land Tax and the National Debt.

The Rebellion of 1745 was put down, when Bonnie Prince Charlie tried to invade the country to make himself king. Charles Edward Stuart, called the Young Pretender, or Bonnie Prince Charlie, defeated the English at Prestonpans and advanced south as far as Derby. He then had to retreat. In 1746 he was defeated at the Battle of Culloden and Bonnie Prince Charlie fled to France. The tartan design and bagpipes were banned by the English.

In1748 Handel composed “Music for the Royal Fireworks” and Henry Fielding wrote “Tom Jones”.

The Prince of Wales died suddenly in 1751. George II would therefore be succeeded by his grandson.

In 1752 Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar and the 1st January became New Year’s Day. In that year Benjamin Franklin invented the lightening conductor.

Pelham tried to retire because of his ill health in 1751, but the King persuaded him to carry on.

Henry Pelham eventually died in office on 6th March 1754.

1. In whose regiment did Pelham serve in the army at Preston?  Prince of Wales Duke of Cumberland Lord Manners Dormer

2. Which treaty ended the War of the Austrian Succession?  Dettingen Aix la Chapelle Versailles Rome

3. For which constituency was Pelham MP?  Laughton Seaford Southend Southampton

4. Who was King George II’s favourite in the Pelham government?  Henry Pelham Duke of Newcastle John Carteret William Pitt