Henry Pelham

The Right Honourable Henry Pelham (25 September 1694–6 March1754) was a British Whig statesman, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 14 February 1743 to his death about ten years later. For the first year of his premiership, real power was held by the Secretary of State for the Northern Department John Carteret, 3rd Baron Carteret, who headed the Carteret Ministry (Pelham was First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House of Commons). Thereafter, he shared power with his brother, The Duke of Newcastle; this period was relatively uneventful in terms of domestic affairs (Great Britain fought in several wars, however). Upon his death, his brother took full control of the ministry.

References

• Some material has been adapted from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.