Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Newcastle
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Portrait by William Hoare c. 1750
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| Prime Minister of Great Britain | |
| In office 29 June 1757 – 26 May 1762 |
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| Monarch | |
| Preceded by | The Duke of Devonshire |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Bute |
| In office 16 March 1754 – 11 November 1756 |
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| Monarch | George II |
| Preceded by | Henry Pelham |
| Succeeded by | The Duke of Devonshire |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 July 1693 London, England |
| Died | 17 November 1768 (aged 75) Lincoln's Inn Fields, England |
| Resting place | All Saints Churchyard, Laughton, East Sussex, England |
| Political party | Whig |
| Spouse |
Lady Harriet Godolphin
(m. 1717) |
| Parents |
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| Alma mater | Clare College, Cambridge |
| Signature |  |
Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne and 1st Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne, was a very important British politician. He was a member of the Whig party. He served as Prime Minister of Great Britain twice. His political career lasted for most of the 18th century. He is usually known as the Duke of Newcastle.
He was a close helper of Robert Walpole, who was Britain's first Prime Minister. He worked under Walpole for over 20 years. After Walpole, he shared power with his brother, Henry Pelham, who was also Prime Minister. The Duke of Newcastle was a Secretary of State for 30 years. He was in charge of Britain's relationships with other countries.
After his brother Henry died, the Duke of Newcastle became Prime Minister himself. He held this top job for six years in two different periods. He was very good at using his influence and money to help his party win elections. He was especially strong in areas like Sussex and Nottinghamshire.
Contents
- Early Life and Family Background
- Starting His Political Journey
- Becoming Lord Chamberlain
- Secretary of State for Britain
- First Time as Prime Minister
- Devonshire's Time as Prime Minister
- Second Time as Prime Minister
- Later Years and Retirement
- His Legacy and How He is Remembered
- Family Life
- Arms
- See also
Early Life and Family Background
Thomas Pelham was born in London on July 21, 1693. His father was Thomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham. His mother was Lady Grace Holles. Her brother was John Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Thomas went to Westminster School. Then he studied at Clare College, Cambridge. In 1711, his uncle died. His father died the next year. Both left their large properties to young Thomas. When he turned 21 in 1714, he became one of the richest landowners in Britain. He had a lot of power in the county of Sussex. His uncle's will said he had to add "Holles" to his name. So, he became Thomas Pelham-Holles.
He became a strong supporter of the Whig party. The Whigs wanted George of Hanover to become king after Queen Anne died. The Tories wanted James Stuart (the 'Old Pretender') to be king. This was a huge issue in British politics. Thomas joined groups like the Hannover Club that supported the Whigs. His home, Newcastle House, became a key meeting place for Whigs.
Starting His Political Journey
Newcastle strongly supported the Whigs when Queen Anne died. He helped make sure Londoners accepted King George I. He even organized groups to fight with Jacobite supporters in the streets.
The new king, George I, rewarded him for his help. In 1714, he became Earl of Clare. In 1715, he became Marquess of Clare and Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. These titles had belonged to his uncle. He also became in charge of counties like Middlesex and Nottingham. He was told to stop Jacobite supporters in these areas. He arrested many people and set up a defense group.
The Whigs won power after the Jacobite rebellion was defeated in 1715. This started the Whig Ascendancy, where the Whigs ruled for most of the 18th century. King George I did not trust the Tories. So, he chose all his ministers from the Whigs.
Newcastle soon joined forces with Robert Walpole. Walpole was a powerful Whig leader. He welcomed Newcastle because he thought he could control him. Newcastle believed Walpole would be very important in British politics. In 1721, Walpole became Britain's first Prime Minister. He held this job for 21 years. Newcastle was related to Walpole's ally, Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend. This made their bond stronger.
On April 2, 1717, Newcastle married Lady Henrietta Godolphin. She was the granddaughter of the Duke of Marlborough. He was a national hero and a Whig symbol.
Becoming Lord Chamberlain
In 1717, at just 23, Newcastle got a high political job. He became Lord Chamberlain of the Household. This meant he was in charge of theaters. Plays often had political messages. Newcastle had to stop plays that criticized the king or the Whig government. He often argued with Sir Richard Steele, a famous playwright. In 1719, he was one of the main investors in George Frideric Handel's new opera company.
He held this job for seven years. He did well enough to get promoted. Even though he was young, he showed his strength in elections. He could get up to 20 Members of Parliament (MPs) elected. This was thanks to his family's wealth and political influence. He stayed in office during a difficult time for the Whigs. His support for Walpole helped him keep his power.
During this time, Newcastle and his wife became known for their grand parties. Many important people in London society attended them. He also loved fox hunting. He often went to his property in Bishopstone for this. As Lord Chamberlain, he also oversaw big repairs to public buildings.
Secretary of State for Britain
A New Important Role
In 1724, Walpole chose Newcastle to be Secretary of State for the Southern Department. This was a very important job. He was now the third most powerful person in the government. Newcastle had become very interested in how Britain dealt with other countries. He learned a lot about diplomacy. At first, he let the other Secretary of State, Townshend, handle foreign policy. Newcastle was like his assistant.
Working with France
Britain and France had been allies since the Treaty of Utrecht. This was a big change, as France used to be Britain's main enemy. When Newcastle became Secretary of State, they had been allies for almost ten years. By 1719, they were part of a larger group called the Quadruple Alliance. This group was very powerful in Europe. They had defeated Spain in a naval war. However, many in Parliament and the country did not like the alliance with France. They still saw France as Britain's natural enemy.
Newcastle's younger brother, Henry Pelham, also joined the government. The brothers got along well, but they sometimes had big arguments. One problem was Newcastle's spending. He spent a lot of money, and the family fortune was shrinking. Many thought Henry was the smarter brother. But Thomas was more successful in politics at first. Despite their differences, they remained strong political allies.
Facing a Royal Challenge
In 1727, King George I died suddenly. His son, George II, became king. The new king had not liked Walpole and Newcastle before. Many thought the government would be replaced.
But Walpole made himself very useful to George II. The king soon saw how good Walpole was and kept him as Prime Minister. Newcastle also became friends with George's daughter, Amelia. By late 1727, Walpole and Newcastle's positions were safe again. They also won a big election, getting many seats in Parliament.
In 1729, there was a disagreement in the government. Townshend thought Austria was Britain's main enemy. Walpole and Newcastle believed Spain was the biggest threat. Spain had a large navy and many colonies. Walpole won the argument. Townshend left office. Newcastle then became the main Secretary of State. He was largely in charge of Britain's foreign policy.
Seeking Peace in Europe
Newcastle and Walpole worked together. They tried to separate Spain and Austria. They made Austria an ally and focused on Spain. But later, they realized France was the real long-term rival. The actions of the French Prime Minister, Cardinal Fleury, showed them they were wrong.
Newcastle, like Walpole, did not want war. He tried to stop Britain from getting involved in big wars in Europe. Britain did not join the War of the Polish Succession. Newcastle tried to prevent it from starting. Once the war began, King George II wanted Britain to help Austria. But Walpole said no. Newcastle mostly agreed with the king, but he accepted Walpole's decision.
Newcastle's brother, Henry Pelham, became Paymaster General. He was now the third most important person in the government. The three men often met at Walpole's country home, Houghton Hall. They made big decisions about foreign and home affairs. Then they presented them to Parliament. They had a large majority, so their plans usually passed. But Newcastle and his brother were slowly becoming more independent from Walpole.
By 1735, Newcastle was also in charge of colonial matters. This gave him even more power. He was a strong Anglican. He also controlled church matters, like appointing bishops.
Newcastle's growing independence was helped by his brother and his best friend, Baron Hardwicke, who became Lord Chancellor. In the late 1730s, his job was mostly about managing relations with Spain. This included trade arguments and issues over the new American colony of Georgia. The long period of peace was starting to look very fragile. He also helped end the War of the Polish Succession in 1738.
War with Spain in America
Tensions between Britain and Spain grew. Many thought the Spanish Empire was weak. They believed its South American colonies could be taken. Some in Parliament wanted war with Spain. Walpole strongly opposed this. Newcastle also felt war was dangerous at first. He tried to find a peaceful solution. He negotiated the Convention of Pardo. This agreement would pay British merchants. But public opinion had changed. Walpole felt he had no choice but to declare war in December 1739.
Britain won an early victory, capturing Porto Bello in Panama. This made people very excited. It put more pressure on Walpole and Newcastle to fight the war harder. Newcastle tried to seem like a strong supporter of the war. He took on more military duties. For the first two years, he was like a Minister of War. He suggested recruiting many soldiers from the American colonies.
In 1741, Britain planned a big attack on Cartagena in South America. The attack was led by Admiral Edward Vernon. He had 31,000 soldiers and sailors. But the siege was a complete disaster. Britain lost thousands of men and had to retreat. Newcastle had given the orders. But much of the blame fell on the aging Prime Minister, Walpole.
Walpole's Fall and New Power
After the Cartagena disaster, Britain held an election in 1741. Walpole's power in Parliament was greatly reduced. Within months, he was forced to leave office. Newcastle stayed in government. He became more powerful when his younger brother, Henry Pelham, became Prime Minister in 1743. The two brothers and their supporters formed a government with some of Walpole's former opponents. But there was still strong opposition, led by people like William Pitt.
The War of the Austrian Succession
In 1740, another war started in Europe. The war with Spain became part of it. This was the War of the Austrian Succession. France and Prussia invaded Austria. They wanted to remove Empress Maria Theresa. Austria had a long-standing alliance with Britain. So, Britain had to declare war. Many also thought a French victory would make France too strong.
At first, Britain only gave money and diplomatic support to Austria. But by 1742, more help was needed. Britain sent 16,000 troops to Europe. Newcastle strongly supported helping the Austrians. He believed Britain could only defeat France by allying with Austria. This was different from what Walpole and Pitt thought.
Newcastle and his brother were firmly in control of British policy until 1756. Newcastle worked to strengthen Britain's power in Europe. He tried to get the Dutch Republic to join the anti-French alliance. He also helped Austria and Prussia make peace in 1745. He approved a successful attack on Louisbourg in 1745. This helped Britain in North America.
The Jacobite Uprising
In 1745, the Jacobite Rising began in Scotland. It spread to northern England. Newcastle worried about an attack from Bonnie Prince Charlie. He also feared a French invasion of southern England. There were many false rumors in London. Some said Newcastle had run away. He had to show himself to a crowd to prove he was still there. If the Jacobites won, he would lose his lands and have to leave the country.
Newcastle understood the danger of the Jacobites faster than King George II. Many others thought the rebellion was a joke. Newcastle organized a response. By late 1745, he had gathered all the southern militias and regular forces. The Jacobites retreated to northern Scotland. They were defeated at Culloden in 1746.
Making Peace in Europe
Britain continued fighting in Europe. But the Dutch Republic wanted peace with France. The Dutch feared a French attack. Newcastle thought any peace would be bad for Britain. He tried to keep the anti-French alliance strong.
Peace talks began in Breda in 1746. Newcastle helped choose Lord Sandwich as Britain's representative. Sandwich was told to delay talks until Britain won a big victory. But the talks did not go well. The Allies suffered defeats. Newcastle's brother, Henry, wanted peace. But Newcastle still hoped for a major Allied victory.
In 1747, Newcastle helped put the Prince of Orange in power in the Netherlands. Orange wanted to continue the war. But he soon needed a huge loan from Britain. Newcastle realized the Dutch were close to collapsing. He sadly decided to seek peace with France. He blamed himself for trusting the Dutch so much. But the king and cabinet still trusted him.
To manage the peace, Newcastle became Northern Secretary. He helped Sandwich get a promotion. In the summer of 1748, Newcastle visited Hanover. He was welcomed warmly. The peace talks went much better. In October 1748, the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle was signed. Britain gave Louisbourg back to France. In return, France gave back Madras and left the Low Countries.
Newcastle was criticized for giving up Louisbourg. But many did not realize how weak Britain's position in Europe had become. Austria was also unhappy. But Newcastle was pleased with the terms. People in Europe praised him for turning a bad situation around.
The Newcastle System for Peace
After the peace, Newcastle started a new policy. He believed that countries constantly changing alliances led to wars. He wanted to use diplomacy to create lasting peace. This peace would be based on a strong alliance between Britain and Austria. He called it "restoring the Old System." But it was known as the Newcastle System.
He was constantly attacked by Pitt and the Patriot Whigs. They thought the last war showed that North America was more important. They made fun of Newcastle for not seeing this. But Newcastle had been aware of the growing power of the American colonies since 1740.
Newcastle worked hard to keep the Austrian Alliance strong. He tried for years to get Maria Theresa's son, Joseph II, elected as King of the Romans. This was a very important title. But the plan failed because Austria was not interested. Newcastle believed that if his plan failed, "France and Prussia will dictate to all the world."
He managed to outsmart the Duke of Bedford. He got Bedford to resign and Lord Sandwich dismissed. This showed how much control he had over British politics. But he made a powerful enemy in Bedford.
In 1752, he went with King George II to Hanover. He tried to make Lord North, a future Prime Minister, his ally. He failed, but they became good friends. North later defended Newcastle.
When Henry Pelham died on March 6, 1754, Newcastle became Prime Minister. He wanted to stay as Northern Secretary because he liked foreign affairs more. But he was convinced there was no one else suitable. So, he accepted the job in March.
First Time as Prime Minister
Newcastle's first job was to choose someone to lead the government in the House of Commons. To everyone's surprise, he did not choose William Pitt or Henry Fox. He chose Sir Thomas Robinson. Newcastle wanted someone he could control. Pitt and Fox were angry and attacked the government more.
In 1754, Newcastle won a large majority in a general election. He felt confident enough to try some financial reforms. He wanted to reduce the interest paid on the National Debt. This might have been to show he was good with money. He was still mainly focused on foreign policy.
Growing Problems in America
The rivalry between Britain and France in North America had been growing. Both wanted the Ohio Country. This area had great potential for new colonies. Both nations sent soldiers to claim it. The British set up a post, but the French drove them out in 1754. Many rich Americans wanted military action. But the colonies were not ready for war.
In 1755, a big expedition was planned against the French in America. British soldiers would take Ohio. American colonial soldiers would take Nova Scotia. Edward Braddock was chosen to lead the British forces. The plan was designed by the Duke of Cumberland. Newcastle had doubts about Braddock and the plans. He had made a temporary alliance with Henry Fox, who strongly supported the campaign.
A few months later, Braddock's forces were defeated at the Battle of Monongahela. More than half the soldiers were killed, including Braddock. The rest retreated. The French now controlled the interior. The Nova Scotia plan was more successful. But the Great Expulsion of French-speaking people that followed caused problems for Newcastle.
All this happened without a formal declaration of war. With the situation in America getting worse, Newcastle had to stop his financial reforms. The money was needed for the military.
Losing Menorca and Leaving Office
While Newcastle was focused on America, bigger things were happening in Europe. Austria became an ally of France in 1756. This was a huge change, called the Diplomatic Revolution. It completely changed the balance of power in Europe.
Newcastle had hoped to prevent a major war in Europe. He wanted to surround France with hostile powers. He thought this would stop them from attacking their neighbors. It would also stop them from sending soldiers to North America. He believed war would only happen if Frederick the Great attacked Austria. But he thought Frederick would be "madman" to do so.
However, in 1756, Frederick invaded Saxony and Bohemia. This started the big European war that Newcastle had feared. What began as a small war in Ohio became a global conflict.
Newcastle was widely blamed for Britain's bad start to the Seven Years' War. In November 1756, he was replaced by the Duke of Devonshire. Some even wanted him executed after Britain lost Menorca in 1756. Instead, the British admiral, John Byng, was shot. Many thought this was to protect Newcastle.
For his long service, he was made Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne. This title could be passed down to his nephew, the 9th Earl of Lincoln.
Devonshire's Time as Prime Minister
Between November 1756 and June 1757, the Duke of Devonshire was Prime Minister. But William Pitt was seen as the main person guiding policy.
Second Time as Prime Minister
Working with Pitt
In July 1757, Newcastle became Prime Minister again. This was because Pitt could not get enough support in Parliament. People often mistakenly think Pitt was Prime Minister during the war. But Newcastle actually held the office. Their relationship became a successful partnership. It gave Britain strong leadership.
On paper, they seemed like an unlikely team. Pitt had criticized Newcastle for years. They had different ideas about war strategy. Newcastle wanted to focus on the war in Europe. Pitt wanted to focus on North America, West Africa, and Asia. But they shared some ideas. They were both strong Whigs. Newcastle had even tried to get Pitt appointed to a high position before.
Leading During the Seven Years' War
British policies during the war were a mix of their ideas. Newcastle insisted on Britain fighting in Europe. This would keep French troops busy there. He also approved attacks on French colonies. As these attacks succeeded, they became bigger. Pitt largely directed these attacks. Newcastle made sure Parliament supported them. Pitt and Newcastle discussed strategy with a few other important figures.
Newcastle was very worried about Britain's bad start to the war. He was concerned about losing Menorca. He wanted to invade Corsica or attack Ostend to help Britain in the Mediterranean. Pitt worried this would start new wars. To please Newcastle and King George II, Pitt agreed to send British troops to fight in Germany in 1758.
Great Successes
In 1758, Pitt sent expeditions around the world. They captured Senegal and Gambia in West Africa. They also captured Louisbourg in North America. He planned even bigger attacks for the next year. Pitt took many troops and ships from Britain. This made Newcastle worry that Britain was not well-defended. His fears grew when Britain learned of French plans to invade Britain. Pitt wanted to continue his plans. But he agreed to make the colonial expeditions smaller in 1760.
Newcastle still believed Britain needed many allies. He thought Europe, not America, would decide the war. He tried to get more countries to join the anti-French alliance. He was mostly unsuccessful. He authorized large payments to the Prussians. They were fighting against much larger armies.
One of Newcastle's biggest achievements was keeping Spain out of the war until 1762. By then, it was too late for Spain to change the outcome. In 1759, he and Pitt organized Britain's defenses against a planned French invasion. This invasion failed because of British naval victories.
Leaving Office Again
This successful government slowly ended. The new king, George III, liked John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute. Bute replaced Pitt. Then he replaced Newcastle as Prime Minister in May 1762. George III did not trust either Pitt or Newcastle. He removed them from power. This was one of the last times a British king could remove a Prime Minister just because he didn't like them. In the future, Parliament would have this power. Bute was a Tory. This ended the Whig party's long control of the government.
Later Years and Retirement
The Duke joined the opposition. He lost his jobs as Lord-Lieutenant because he opposed the peace treaty of 1763. He and Pitt felt the peace terms were too generous to France and Spain. Many lands captured during the war were given back. But France's power in Canada and India was permanently broken.
He spent much time at his house, Claremont. He was very proud of it. Newcastle had been in government for almost 45 years. He enjoyed his new freedom at first.
In 1765, he became Lord Privy Seal in Lord Rockingham's government. Rockingham was also a rich Whig leader. Newcastle was offered the job of Southern Secretary by the king, but he turned it down. The government lasted only a few months.
He remained active in politics but knew he would not hold office again. He still had a lot of influence. But his health got worse after a stroke in December 1767. He died in November 1768, at age 75, at his London home. After his death, Claremont was sold to Robert Clive.
Newcastle was a very hardworking and energetic politician. He refused a pension twice. He left office £300,000 poorer than when he started. This was because of his spending on political campaigns, his fancy lifestyle, and not managing his money well.
His Legacy and How He is Remembered
Newcastle was often made fun of. People said he was confused and didn't understand government business. He was one of the most ridiculed politicians of his time. One famous story says he was told Annapolis needed defending. He supposedly replied, "Annapolis! Oh yes, Annapolis must be defended, to be sure. Annapolis must be defended—where is Annapolis?"
Horace Walpole, who didn't like him, said he "loved business immoderately; yet was only always doing it, never did it."
Historians have different opinions about him. Some say he was not fit for his job. Others see him as a smart politician. He skillfully managed the complex relationships between European countries. He is praised and criticized for being perhaps the greatest political organizer of the 18th century. He could often get Parliament to agree to policies that seemed unpopular or strange.
Most credit for Britain's victory in the Seven Years' War goes to Pitt, not Newcastle. People often say Pitt was a visionary who won the war by changing Newcastle's focus from Europe to America. But others defend Newcastle. They compare his "continental policy" to Lord North's failure to get European allies during the American War of Independence. This failure led to Britain's defeat in that war.
In Popular Culture
He was shown as a bumbling fool in the novel Humphry Clinker by Tobias Smollett. In the 1948 film Bonnie Prince Charlie, he was played by G. H. Mulcaster. He also appears in the British TV series City of Vice.
Family Life
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On April 2, 1717, he married Lady Harriet Godolphin. She was the granddaughter of the Duke of Marlborough. The Duchess had poor health, and they did not have any children.
In 1731, he became a Master Mason at a special meeting. In 1739, he was one of the first governors of London's Foundling Hospital, a charity for children.
Who Inherited His Titles?
Since he had no children, his title of Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne would have ended. So, King George II created him Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne in 1756. This new title could be passed to his nephew, the 9th Earl of Lincoln.
In 1762, he was also made Baron Pelham of Stanmer. This title would go to his cousin, Thomas Pelham, 1st Earl of Chichester.
When he died in 1768, the Baron Pelham of Stanmer title and most of his family lands went to his cousin Thomas. Thomas later became Earl of Chichester. Newcastle and his brother were buried at All Saints' Church in Laughton, East Sussex.
His other lands and the Newcastle dukedom went to Lord Lincoln.
Arms
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See also
In Spanish: Thomas Pelham-Holles para niños
