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St. Alban's Tavern group facts for kids

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The St. Alban's Tavern group was a group of 78 British Members of Parliament (MPs). They wanted to bring together two important politicians, William Pitt the Younger and Charles James Fox. Their goal was to form one strong government. The group got its name because they met at the St. Alban's Tavern. This was in London, starting in January 1784.

What Was the Group About?

Most members of the group were 'independent country gentlemen'. This means they didn't strongly belong to any political party. They wanted to act freely. On January 26, 1784, they decided to support any party. That party had to show a willingness to unite.

At this time, Pitt's government was weak. It didn't have enough support in the House of Commons. So, Pitt agreed to the group's idea. But he said any new government must be formed "with principle and honour." Fox, on the other hand, spoke through the Duke of Portland. The Duke believed Pitt became leader unfairly. He insisted Pitt must resign first. Only then could a new government be formed.

In truth, neither Pitt nor Fox thought the group would succeed. But they both felt they had to listen to them. The people who wanted peace were called "well-meaning and naive." This was because they probably didn't know how much Pitt and Fox disliked each other. When talks failed, the group itself split. About 45 members supported Pitt. The other 30 members supported Fox.

Who Were the Members?

The names of the group's members were printed in a book called the Annual Register in 1784. Five of the 78 members were from Scotland. Many members came from English counties. The leader of the group was Thomas Grosvenor. He was an MP for Chester. On February 2, 1784, he successfully asked the House of Commons for a "firm, efficient, extended and united Administration."

Here are the members of the group:

Member Constituency First elected
Francis Annesley. Reading 1774
Sir John Barrington, Bt. Newtown (Isle of Wight) 1780
Hon. George Cranfield Berkeley Gloucester 1783
Richard Wilbraham-Bootle. Chester 1761
Hon. William Henry Bouverie Salisbury 1776
Thomas Berney Bramston. Essex 1779
The Viscount Bulkeley Anglesey 1774
John Buller. West Looe 1768
Sir George Cornewall, Bt Herefordshire 1774
Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton, Bt Cheshire 1780
John Dawes. Tregony 1780
Thomas, Baron Dimsdale Hertford 1780
William Drake, Jr. Amersham 1768
George Keith Elphinstone Dunbartonshire 1781
Earl of Euston Thetford 1782
William Ewer. Dorchester 1765
Archibald Campbell Fraser Inverness-shire 1782
Thomas Gilbert. Lichfield 1763
Ambrose Goddard. Wiltshire 1772
George Graham. Kinross-shire 1780
Sir Henry Gough Bramber 1774
Thomas Grosvenor Chester 1755
(Sir) Benjamin Hammet Taunton 1782
Thomas Harley Herefordshire 1761
E. Hervey, esq.
Sir Harry Hoghton, Bt Preston 1768
Arthur Holdsworth Dartmouth 1780
Filmer Honywood Kent 1774
Sir Richard Hotham Southwark 1780
Sir George Howard Stamford 1761
William Hussey. Salisbury 1765
Benjamin Keene Cambridge 1776
Thomas Kemp Lewes 1780
Richard Payne Knight Leominster 1780
Sir Robert Lawley, Bt Warwickshire 1780
Sir William Lemon Cornwall 1770
James Tylney Long Devizes 1762
Lieutenant the Hon. James Luttrell Stockbridge 1775
Hon General Luttrell Bossiney 1768
William Lygon Worcestershire 1775
Sir Horatio Mann Maidstone 1774
Hon. Charles Marsham Bt Kent 1768
Sir Joseph Mawbey, Bt Surrey 1761
Sir Roger Mostyn, Bt Flintshire 1758
John Parry Caernarvonshire 1780
Henry Peirse (younger) Northallerton 1774
William Pochin Leicestershire 1780
Thomas Powys Northamptonshire 1774
William Praed St Ives 1774
John Purling Weymouth and Melcombe Regis 1770
Sir Walter Rawlinson Queenborough 1774
Abraham Rawlinson Lancaster 1780
Henry Rawlinson Liverpool 1780
Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bt Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1768
John Rolle Devon 1780
Charles Boughton Evesham 1780
Thomas Scott Bridport 1780
Sir George Shuckburgh, Bt Warwickshire 1780
Humphrey Sibthorp Boston 1777
John Sinclair Caithness 1780
Sir Thomas Skipwith Steyning 1769
William Charles Sloper St Albans 1780
Robert Smith Nottingham 1779
Sir Robert Smyth, Bt Colchester 1774
John Smyth Pontefract 1783
Walter Spencer Stanhope Haslemere 1775
Thomas Stanley Lancashire 1780
John Strutt Maldon 1774
Hon. John Manners-Sutton Newark 1783
Clement Taylor Maidstone 1780
John Tempest Durham (County) 1762
Robert Thistlethwayte Hampshire 1780
Beilby Thompson Thirsk 1768
Sir John Trevelyan, Bt Somerset 1777
Thomas Whitmore Bridgnorth 1771
Sir John Borlase Warren Great Marlow 1774
John Eardley Wilmot Tiverton 1776
Glyn Wynn Caernarvon Boroughs 1768
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