William Petty, Earl of Shelburne 1782-3 Whig

Born: 2 May 1737 in Dublin, Ireland

First entered Parliament: 2 June 1760

Age he became PM: 45 years, 63 days

Maiden¹ speech: 5 February 1762 in favour of withdrawing troops from Germany

Total time as PM: 266 days

Died: 7 May 1805 at Berkerly Square, London

Facts and figures

Nicknames: "Malagrida" and "The Jesuit in Berkerly Square"

Education: Christ Church, Oxford²

Family: He was married twice and three sons and one daughter.

Interests: Literature, chess player, landscaping

Biography

Devious³ and untrustworthy

An intellectual figure credited with establishing some early reformist ideas, Shelburne was less appreciated in his own time, being considered devious and untrustworthy.

In the 1760s he spent two years as Pitt's Secretary of State, and in the late 1770s led the Whigs in Opposition⁴. On Rockingham's death in 1782, he formed a government as PM, with the 23-year-old Pitt the Younger as his Chancellor⁵.

During his short term he succeeded in securing peace with America, France and Spain, presided over the beginning of Britain's trade recovery, and put forward a programme of public service reform.

Quote unquote

"The sun of Great Britain will set whenever she acknowledges the independence of America - the independence of America would end in the ruin of England."

Did you know?

John Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, his son by the first marriage, was a member of the House of Commons for twenty years as member for Chipping Wycombe.

First wife - Lady Sophia Carteret

Married the Earl when she was 19 but died when she was just 25. Described as an 'amiable⁶, virtuous⁷ woman'.

Second wife - Lady Louisa Fitzpatrick

Shelburne's second wife played chess and billiards⁸ and was highly regarded for her 'beauty, reserve and kindness'. She was 18 years younger than the Earl but died many years before him aged⁹ just 34 in London's Berkeley Square.