St. Alban's Tavern group facts for kids

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: