Walpole, Sir Robert, 1st Earl of Orford 1676-1745
English Whig politician, the first Prime Minister of Great Britain

Robert Walpole was born in Houghton in Norfolk, and educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. He was destined for the Church, and entered politics largely by accident when his two elder brothers died, leaving him the family estate and sufficient wealth to follow a political career. He entered the House of Commons in 1701 as the Whig member for Castle Rising, Norfolk, and in 1702 for King's Lynn. He was a formidable speaker and quickly rose in the ranks of his party during Queen Anne's reign, appointed Secretary for War in 1708 and Treasurer of the Navy in 1710. During the Tory government that followed the Whig collapse in 1710, he was sent to the Tower for alleged corruption (1712), but was recalled by the new king, George I, who had succeeded in 1714, and made a Privy Councillor and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1715).

George I could not speak English and gave up attending the proceedings of parliament, thereby leaving Walpole considerable freedom and discretion as leader of the government. Gradually Walpole established his supremacy, chairing, on the king's behalf, a small group of Ministers which was the forerunner of the present-day Cabinet. As a result, he came to be seen as England's first Prime Minister, although he himself rejected the title. He was knighted in 1725 and created Earl of Orford in 1742.

Walpole's foreign policy was based on a determination to maintain peace. He did not fully recover from the outbreak of the so-called War of Jenkins' Ear with Spain in 1939 which he had opposed, and resigned in 1942. He enjoyed good relations with the Prince of Wales, who became George II, and with his wife, Queen Caroline and, in addition to his earldom, Walpole was presented with No 10 Downing Street, which was to become the permanent London home of all future prime ministers.

Bibliography: H T Dickinson, Walpole and the Whig Supremacy (1973); J H Plumb, Sir Robert Walpole (1956-61).