Robert Walpole

Before the death of his first wife, Walpole became romantically involved with Maria Skerrett. He married her by March 1738. The two had a daughter who following their marriage became his legitimate child.

By 1744, Walpole’s health rapidly deteriorated. He breathed his last on March 18, 1745. He was buried in the parish church of his home estate in Houghton, Norfolk.

Robert Walpole was born on August 26, 1676, in Houghton, Norfolk, to Robert and Mary Walpole. He was one of the nineteen children born to the couple. His father was a Whig politician and member of the aristocracy.

Robert Walpole secured his preliminary education from a private school in Massingham. Academically brilliant, he enrolled at Eton College in 1690. Later on, he secured admission at King’s College Cambridge and matriculated from the same on April 2, 1696.

Walpole originally planned to become a clergyman. However, following the death of his two elder brothers, he became the eldest heir to his family estate. He gave up on the idea of becoming a clergyman and instead helped his father in managing the family estate.

Following the death of his father in 1700, Walpole succeeded to the family estate. In 1701, he began his political career and became a member of the parliament for Castle Rising. In 1702, he left Castle Rising to represent King’s Lynn.

Walpole’s political career was marked by rapid progress. He became a member of the Admiralty board and by 1708, was appointed as the Secretary of War. Briefly, he served as the Treasurer of the Navy from 1710 to 1711.

The rise of the Tories in the 1710 general election put a halt to Walpole’s political career. He remained a loyal Whig politician and soon became the most outspoken member of the opposition. In 1712, Walpole faced corruption charges and was imprisoned for six months.

In 1713, he was re-elected as MP for King’s Lynn. The death of Queen Anne and the subsequent succession of George I in 1714 marked the end of Tories rule as well. Tories opposed George I’s accession which led the Whig government to come to power.

Under the Whig government, Walpole was appointed as the Privy Councillor and Paymaster of the Forces. In 1715, he was made chairman of a secret committee formed to investigate the actions of the previous Tory ministry.

Walpole’s most remarkable contribution came as the Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1721 to 1742. He was the first and till date the longest serving Prime Minister of the country. His two decades long tenure witnessed Britai’sn rise and shine. He helped the country sail through the troubled financial phase following South Sea Bubble collapse. He lowered tax, increased exports, established peace and helped maintain an effective relationship between the Crown and the Parliament.