Grafton ministry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grafton ministry |
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| 1768–1770 | |
Grafton by Pompeo Batoni
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| Date formed | 14 October 1768 |
| Date dissolved | 28 January 1770 |
| People and organisations | |
| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | Duke of Grafton |
| Total no. of members | 12 appointments |
| Member parties |
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| Status in legislature | Majority (coalition) 304 / 558
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| Opposition party | Grenvillites |
| History | |
| Legislature term(s) | 13th GB Parliament |
| Predecessor | Chatham ministry |
| Successor | North ministry |
The Grafton ministry was the British government led by Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton. He served as Prime Minister from October 1768 to January 1770. A "ministry" is like a team of top government officials who work together to run the country.
Contents
How the Government Started
The Grafton ministry took over from an earlier government called the Chatham ministry. The leader of that government, Lord Chatham, became very ill. Because of this, the Duke of Grafton had already been doing most of the work.
To make sure his government had enough support in Parliament, Grafton invited a group called the Bedford Whigs to join his team. These included important people like Earl Gower, Viscount Weymouth, and the Earl of Hillsborough.
Challenges and Changes
Grafton and some of his original team wanted to be friendly with the American colonies. The colonies were becoming restless and unhappy with British rule. However, the new Bedford Whigs wanted to be tougher on the Americans. Even though Grafton disagreed, his government started to lean towards the tougher approach.
This difference in opinion caused problems. When they tried to replace Lord Shelburne, who supported a friendly approach, Lord Chatham finally resigned. This made Grafton the official leader of the government. The Bedford Whigs now had even more power.
The government also faced criticism for how it handled international issues. For example, they were blamed when Corsica, an ally of Britain, was taken over by France. This event was known as the Corsican Crisis. The government was also attacked in a series of critical letters known as the Junius Letters.
End of the Ministry
In January 1770, the Duke of Grafton himself resigned. Two other key members, Lord Camden and Lord Granby, also left. These were the last of Lord Chatham's original supporters in the government.
After Grafton's resignation, the government was replaced by the North ministry. This new government was led by Lord North, who had been the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The North ministry would stay in power until 1782.
Key Government Roles
The Grafton ministry included several important positions:
- First Lord of the Treasury: This was the top job, held by the Duke of Grafton himself. It's similar to being the Prime Minister.
- Lord Chancellor: This person was the head of the justice system. Lord Camden held this role for most of the ministry.
- Chancellor of the Exchequer: This person was in charge of the country's money. Lord North held this position.
- Secretaries of State: These officials handled different areas, like foreign affairs (Northern and Southern Departments) and colonial matters.
Changes in Key Roles
During the ministry, some changes happened:
- In October 1768, Lord Weymouth became the Southern Secretary. Lord Rochford took over as Northern Secretary.
- In January 1770, Lord Camden was replaced by Charles Yorke as Lord Chancellor. Sadly, Yorke died just three days later.
