Second Newcastle Ministry
Encyclopedia
The Second Newcastle Ministry (sometimes known as the Newcastle/Pitt Ministry) was a British
government which served between 1757 and 1762, at the height of the Seven Years War. It was headed by the Duke of Newcastle
, who was serving in his second term as Prime Minister. The most influential and famous figure in the government was William Pitt
, who served as Secretary of State
.
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The Ministry ended a period of political instability, when Britain had struggled in the war. Pitt was a strong war leader, but lacked the support in parliament necessary to provide effective leader. Newcastle provided this, as he has a strong base of support in the House of Commons
. They divided duties between them - with Pitt directing defence and foreign policy, while Newcastle controlled the nation's finances and patronage.
The Ministry was very successful leading Britain to many victories in the war, particularly in the Annus Mirablis of 1759, which put the country in an immensely strong position by 1761. That year Pitt resigned over a dispute concerning the entry of Spain into the war. The Ministry had been under pressure since the death of the old King, and accession of George III who disliked both Pitt and Newcastle and favoured the Earl of Bute.
In 1762 Newcastle was forced to resign and was replaced by Bute, this is traditionally considered the moment the Ministry collapsed.
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
government which served between 1757 and 1762, at the height of the Seven Years War. It was headed by the Duke of Newcastle
Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and 1st Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne, KG, PC was a British Whig statesman, whose official life extended throughout the Whig supremacy of the 18th century. He is commonly known as the Duke of Newcastle.A protégé of Sir Robert Walpole, he served...
, who was serving in his second term as Prime Minister. The most influential and famous figure in the government was William Pitt
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham PC was a British Whig statesman who led Britain during the Seven Years' War...
, who served as Secretary of State
Secretary of State for the Southern Department
The Secretary of State for the Southern Department was a position in the cabinet of the government of Kingdom of Great Britain up to 1782.Before 1782, the responsibilities of the two British Secretaries of State were divided not based on the principles of modern ministerial divisions, but...
.
House of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
. They divided duties between them - with Pitt directing defence and foreign policy, while Newcastle controlled the nation's finances and patronage.
The Ministry was very successful leading Britain to many victories in the war, particularly in the Annus Mirablis of 1759, which put the country in an immensely strong position by 1761. That year Pitt resigned over a dispute concerning the entry of Spain into the war. The Ministry had been under pressure since the death of the old King, and accession of George III who disliked both Pitt and Newcastle and favoured the Earl of Bute.
In 1762 Newcastle was forced to resign and was replaced by Bute, this is traditionally considered the moment the Ministry collapsed.