Thomas Pelham-Holles
Thomas Pelham-Holles was a Whig politician and member of the House of Lords in Great Britain.
Contents
History
Thomas was born the eldest son of Thomas Pelham (same name), baron of Pelham, and Grace Holles.
His uncle, John Holles, duke of Newcastle upon Tyne, died in 1711. Thomas adopted the surname Pelham-Holles to inherit his lands. His father died the next year, leaving him to inherit his titles.
Pelham-Holles quickly became a central figure in London's Whig circles, and following the Hanoverian succession he was created earl of Clare. In 1715 he was created marquess of Clare and duke of Newcastle upon Tyne (which had gone extinct following his uncle's death). He emerged as an effective electioneer, at least in part due to the sheer number of pocket burroughs he controlled
In 1717 he married Henrietta Godolphin, granddaughter of Churchill.
During the Whig split Pelham-Holles followed Stanhope, but became a protege of Walpole after the split healed.
He was appointed to Southern secretary in 1724. His younger brother, Henry Pelham, also entered government around this time. As paymaster general, Henry emerged as the preeminent politician.
Henry came to lead the government in 1743. At the same time, Pelham-Holles' electioneering skills made him indispensible as George's agent in Parliament. With variable levels of autonomy, he directed both Whig party resources and the Treasury, and commanded a majority through pocket boroughs.
Following Henry's death in 1754, Thomas nominally succeeded his brother in leadership. In actuality he became the king-maker for the next head. Fox and Pitt were politically ascendant and the obvious choices, but he chose neither. The next year, Robinson resigned and Pelham-Holles finally turned to Fox for leadership.
In 1754, border skirmishes in the Ohio territory escalated into the French and Indian War. Frederick invaded Austria to seize Saxony and Bohemia, and Hanover stood between French armies and the emerging war front. England was not prepared for the Seven Years' War, and suffered a devastating loss in Menorca. There were calls to execute members of the government, up to and including Pelham-Holles. A court marshal against MP and Admiral John Byng was offered up as a scapegoat. Fox and Pelham-Holles both resigned in late 1756 while Byng was executed in early 1757.
Pelham-Holles was created duke of Newcastle under Lyne in 1756.
The succeeding Cavendish government did not fare much better. William demanded that Pitt be removed as a condition to taking command over the defense of Hanover, which was accepted. Without Pitt, the government fell apart, and a prospective Fox government also failed before it could be formally appointed.
Pitt and Pelham-Holles formed a coalition to regain control over government.
After George II died in 1760, George III succeeded the throne. He shortly forced the appointment of his close advisor, Stuart, to government. Stuart and Pelham-Holles together overruled Pitt's intention to declare war against Spain; he resigned in protest. Shortly after, Stuart forced Fox's appointment to government over Pelham-Holles' objections. Pelham-Holles finally resigned over funding for the war. He entered formal opposition to the government thereafter.
He was created baron of Stanmer in 1762.
Pelham-Holles returned to government in 1765 to support the Watson-Wentworth government, however it only lasted a year.
He remained an active member of the opposition until his health began failing in 1767. He died in 1768.