= Charles Watson-Wentworth = '''Charles Watson-Wentworth''' was a [[UnitedKingdom/WhigParty|Whig]] politician and member of the [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament|House of Lords]] in [[UnitedKingdom/Democratization|Great Britain]]. <> ---- == History == Charles was the eldest surviving son of '''Thomas Watson-Wentworth''', '''baron of Malton'''. During the [[UnitedKingdom/Monarchs#Stuart|Jacobite]] rising led by '''Charles Edward Stuart''', Watson-Wentworth led a volunteer force and fought under the command of [[UnitedKingdom/William|William]]. The next year, Thomas Watson-Wentworth was created '''marquess of Rockingham''', enabling Charles Watson-Wentworth to use the courtesy title of '''earl of Malton'''. His father died in 1750, leaving him to inherit all titles. He assumed his seat in the [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament|House of Lords]] in 1752. Watson-Wentworth was a [[UnitedKingdom/WhigParty|Whig]] and supporter of [[UnitedKingdom/ThomasPelhamHolles|Pelham-Holles]]. In 1762, he followed Pelham-Holles and resigned in protest against [[UnitedKingdom/JohnStuart|Stuart]]. Watson-Wentworth was offered the opportunity to form government in 1765. He was forced to resign the next year, with [[UnitedKingdom/WilliamPitt|Pitt]] regaining leadership. Following the '''Battle of Yorktown''', [[UnitedKingdom/FrederickNorth|North]] lost a vote of no confidence and resigned. Watson-Wentworth was again offered leadership. He died in office just three months into this term. ---- == Policies == Both of Watson-Wentworth terms in government leadership focused on the American colonies. In the first, he effected policies that sought to reconcile tensions without unbalancing the domestic balance of power. He repealed the '''Stamp Act''', which had been a major demand of colonists. He also pushed through the '''Declaratory Act''' that affirmed the [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament|Parliament's]] power to legislate for the colonies. In his short second term, most importantly, he acknowledged [[UnitedStates/Democratization#American_Revolutionary_War|American independence]]. ---- CategoryRicottone