1743 - 1754

Henry Pelham (1695-1754) was one half of one of the great political partnerships of the eighteenth century. He and his elder brother - who inherited the enormous Holles eState and gained the Dukedom of Newcastle - were between them essential to Walpole's hold on power. Henry acted as his lieutenant in the Commons, and after his fall in 1742 was his chosen successor. He became first Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the government in August 1743 and retained power until his death in 1754.