Shelburne ministry

This is a list of the principal holders of government office during the premiership of the Earl of Shelburne between July 1782 and April 1783.

Shelburne ministry
1782–1783
Shelburne (1791)
Date formed4 July 1782 (1782-07-04)
Date dissolved26 March 1783 (1783-03-26)
People and organisations
MonarchGeorge III
Prime MinisterLord Shelburne
Total no. of ministers16 appointments
Member parties
Status in legislatureMajority (coalition)
Opposition parties
Opposition leaders
History
Legislature term(s)15th GB Parliament
PredecessorSecond Rockingham ministry
SuccessorFox–North coalition

Upon the fall of the North ministry in March 1782, Whig Lord Rockingham became Prime Minister for a second time. He died in office four months later, and Home Secretary Lord Shelburne was invited to form a government. However, Charles James Fox and several other former Rockinghamites (including Cavendish and Burke) refused to serve under Shelburne and went into opposition. The Foxites allied with the supporters of Lord North to bring down the government, and the Fox–North coalition came to power in April 1783. This government did not long survive the hostility of King George III, and many of Shelburne's ministers returned to office under the leadership of William Pitt the Younger in December 1783, though Shelburne himself was consoled with the title Marquess of Lansdowne.

Cabinet

PortfolioMinisterTookofficeLeftofficeParty
First Lord of the Treasury The Earl of Shelburne*4 July 1782 (1782-07-04)26 March 1783 (1783-03-26)Whig
Lord Chancellor The Lord Thurlow3 June 1778 (1778-06-03)7 April 1783 (1783-04-07)Independent
Lord President of the Council The Lord Camden27 March 1782 (1782-03-27)2 April 1783 (1783-04-02)Whig
Lord Privy Seal The Duke of Grafton1782 (1782)1783 (1783)Whig
Chancellor of the Exchequer William Pitt the Younger10 July 1782 (1782-07-10)31 March 1783 (1783-03-31)Tory
Secretary of State for the Home Department Thomas Townshend10 July 1782 (1782-07-10)2 April 1783 (1783-04-02)Whig
  • Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
  • First Lord of Trade
 The Lord Grantham9 December 1780 (1780-12-09)2 April 1783 (1783-04-02)Whig
First Lord of the Admiralty The Viscount Keppel1782 (1782)1783 (1783)Whig
 The Viscount Howe1783 (1783)1788 (1788)Independent
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster The Lord Ashburton17 April 1782 (1782-04-17)29 August 1783 (1783-08-29)Independent
Master-General of the Ordnance The Duke of Richmond1782 (1782)1783 (1783)Whig

Changes

  • January 1783 – Lord Howe succeeds Lord Keppel at the Admiralty.

Ministers not in Cabinet

Notes

  1. Sheridan 1806, p. 12.

References

  • Cook, Chris; Stevenson, John (1980). British Historical Facts: 17601830. Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 978-0-333-21512-8.
  • Sheridan, Richard Brinsley (1806). Memoir of the Life of The Right Honourable Charles James Fox. London: H. D. Symonds.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Preceded by
Second Rockingham ministry
Government of Great Britain
1782–1783
Succeeded by
Fox–North coalition
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