James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave


James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave KG PC FRS, was a British statesman, who is sometimes regarded as the second shortest-serving British Prime Minister in history. His brief tenure as First Lord of the Treasury is lent a more lasting significance by his memoirs, which are regarded as significant in the development of Whig history.
'', by Joshua Reynolds, 1770–80

Life

Waldegrave was born the eldest son of James Waldegrave, 1st Earl Waldegrave, and his wife, Mary Webb, a daughter of Sir John Webb, 3rd Baronet. Waldegrave was educated at Westminster and Eton and he inherited his father's titles in 1741. He was a Lord of the Bedchamber from 1743 to 1752, appointed to the Privy Council in 1752 and Governor to The Prince of Wales and The Prince Edward from 1752 to 1756. On 15 May 1759, he married Maria Walpole, the illegitimate daughter of Sir Edward Walpole and they had three daughters:
After the resignation of The Duke of Newcastle as Prime Minister in November 1756, George II dismissed William Pitt in April 1757 and invited Lord Waldegrave to take over from Newcastle's successor, The Duke of Devonshire, as First Lord of the Treasury. Accordingly, Devonshire was briefly dismissed and Lord Waldegrave tried to form a government from 8 to 12 June that year but failed to do so and stepped down, partly because he feared that as Prime Minister, he would fall out with his close friend, the King. Devonshire then continued as First Lord and Prime Minister for almost another two weeks, and Newcastle returned a week later.
Lord Waldegrave was awarded the Garter soon after and retired from public life upon the accession of George III in 1760. He died of smallpox three years later and lacking male heirs, his titles passed to his younger brother, John.
After his death, his widow Maria married into the British Royal Family becoming the wife of Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, King George III's brother. Waldegrave's memoirs were published in 1821.
Note: Lord Waldegrave is not usually counted as Prime Minister, but as he was First Lord of the Treasury he is sometimes regarded as the second-shortest-serving Prime Minister in British history.