Second Rockingham ministry
This is a list of the principal holders of government office during the second premiership of Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, from March to July 1782.
The government of Lord North resigned on 22 March 1782 after losing a motion of no confidence following the British defeat at the Siege of Yorktown during the American War of Independence. The Whig Lord Rockingham, previously Prime Minister 1765-1766, formed a government. The Rockingham Whigs had generally been sympathetic to the cause of the Colonists and under Rockingham the British government began the negotiations leading to the Peace of Paris that concluded the war.
The death of Rockingham on 1 July 1782 caused a split in the ministry. The Home Secretary Lord Shelburne was appointed to succeed him but several members of the government refused to serve under him and resigned. These Portland Whigs (named after their nominal leader the Duke of Portland) allied in opposition with Lord North and brought down Shelburne's government in March 1783, coming to power as the Fox-North Coalition.
Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.
Notes
References
- 1 2 3 4 resigned in July 1782 and later served in the Fox-North Coalition
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 went on to serve in the Shelburne Ministry until March 1783
- 1 2 went on to serve in the Shelburne Ministry then also in the Fox-North Coalition
- ↑ initially served in the Shelburne Ministry, but resigned January 1783 and later served in the Fox-North Coalition
- Bibliography
- Cook, Chris; Stevenson, John (1980). British Historical Facts 1760-1830. Macmillan.
| Preceded by North Ministry |
British Government March–July 1782 |
Succeeded by Shelburne Ministry |
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