FRtR > Biographies > George Grenville

A Biography of George Grenville (1712-1770)


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October 14,1712, George Grenville, son of Earl Temple, was born. He was educated for the law, but abandoned the profession in 1741 on his election to the House of Commons. Three years later he was appionted to the Admiralty Board and in 1747 advanced to the Treasury Board. He served there until he was appionted Treasurer of the Navy, seven years later. There he was concentrated on naval reform, which effected in the important Navy Act of 1758. This act attempted to regulate the better payment of seamen as a way of encouraging service during the Seven Years War. Grenville attempted further reform but was hindered by the opposition of the mercantile community.

In 1761 he was rewarded with actual Cabinet rank and the Leadership of the House. The First Lord, John Stuart, Earl of Bute and influential mentor of Grenville, fell the thankless task of financing an escalating war. Grenville wished to terminate the German war and Britain's subsidy to Prussia, so that Britain could concentrate its energies on continuing the succesfull maritime war against the family compact of France and Spain. Inexperienced in financial matters, Bute offered Grenville the Chancellorship of the Exchequer. To both his and the King's surprise Grenville not only declined, but also demanded the more important seals of the Northern Department, and also demanded that Egremond remained at the Southern Department. A reluctant King agreed with Grenville's proviso.

Bute, worn out by political battles, was determent to resign once the peace was secure. He and Grenville worked out the details of his administration in secret. Although he had little influence in the formation of his own Treasury Board, he remained firm in keeping Egremond at the Southern Department. In april 1763 Grenville became First Lord. He not only combined the offices of First Lord and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but also became chief spokesman for the ministry in the Commons. With Egremond at the Southern Department and the experienced Earl of Halifax at the Northern Department, Grenville formed the 'Triumvirate'. In august 1763 George III assured Grenville that he would be minister in both name and deed. As minister he was confronted by tremendous financial and administrative problems.

Grenville's first speech of march 9, 1764, which included most of the new colonial regulations and the initial resolutions for a colonial stamp act, was a personal succes. He aimed at the preservation of peace and the commercial security of the empire as a whole. This colonial policy must be placed in the context of the Seven Years War, and the fear of a revengeful France. By strengthening the commercial bonds that held the empire together, both east and west, economy was to be created at home, while the new territories were to be firmly established and the British naval supremacy secured. The Americans however did not concieve the Stamp Act to be a continuation of Britain's usual colonial policy, but a dangerious and new innovation. Dispite colonial opposition the act passed quickly and recieved royal assent in 1765.

Grenville's sudden fall from office in 1765 had little to do with the alienation of the colonies, but woth the miscalculations regalding the King's political options. In the Parliament he remained opposed to the possibility of using arms to support royal authority in America. But his power base in the Commons was weakened.

November 13, 1770, George grenville died in London, after been seriously ill.