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Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle

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The Resume

    (July 21, 1693-November 17, 1768)
    Born in London, United Kingdom
    Two-time Prime Minister of Great Britain (1754-56, 1757-62)
    Older brother of his predecessor as Prime Minister, Henry Pelham

Why he might be annoying:

    He added Holles to his last name as a condition of inheriting his uncle's estate.
    After the death of Queen Anne, he incited pro-George I mobs to fight in the streets of London against supporters of the Old Pretender.
    His relations with King George II were so bad that at one point he thought that George -- then still Prince of Wales -- had challenged him to a duel. (It turned out to be a misunderstanding caused by George's poor English.)
    His first ministry fell over the poor start to the Seven Years' War, particularly the loss of Minorca.
    Credit for the British victories during his second ministry largely went to William Pitt, his Secretary of State.
    He was the last Prime Minster to lose his office because of the monarch's personal hostility, when King George III replaced him with the Earl of Bute (1762).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was married to Lady Harriet Godolphin for 51 years.
    He was the main financial backer of George Frederic Handel's Royal Academy of Music.
    Through personal diplomacy, he kept Spain from joining the Seven Years War until 1762, when it was too late to alter the outcome.
    He turned down a government pension after retiring from politics.

Credit: C. Fishel


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Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying