Born: 28 September 1735
First entered Parliament: 10 December 1756
Age he became PM: 33 years, 16 days
Maiden1 speech: 9 December 1762 in the House of Lords on the preliminary terms of the Peace of Paris
Total time as PM: One year, 106 days
Died: 14 March 1811 at Euston Hall, Suffolk
Facts and figures
Nicknames: Royal Oak and The Turf Macaroni
Education: Westminster School and Peterhouse, Cambridge
Family: Grafton was the second of three sons. He was married twice , and had seven sons and ninedaughters
Interests: Hunting, breeding racehorses, farming, collecting books
Biography
Colourful but complex
The Duke of Grafton was a colourful figure whose complex private life has overshadowed his time as prime minister.
Pitt the Elder appointed Grafton as his First Lord of the Treasury2, but
Grafton became disillusioned3 by the failure of the mentally ill Pitt to consult him. As Pitt's illness got worse, Grafton stepped in at the age of 33.
His short period of office was taken up with America. He believed that all duties on the colonies should be removed - except that on tea. He also had to deal with repeated attempts by rebel MP John Wilkes to take up his seat in Parliament.
Grafton attracted scandal for his indiscreet personal life and love of pleasure, but his career was saved by his wife's own indiscretions, which allowed him to porce her.
Demoralised by personal attacks published in newspapers about him, he resigned in 1770. He received the Order of the Garter from King George III, with whom he had been popular.
Quote unquote
Wisdom is at no times more conspicuous4, nor more amiable5, than in the acknowledgement of error.
Did you know?
Grafton was shy and disliked ceremonial duties. He would sometimes fall asleep at cabinet meetings.
First wife - Anne Liddell
She was just 18 when he married the Duke and gave birth five times - two of whom dies in infancy6. They were separated after nine years.
Second wife - Elizabeth Wrottesley
His second wife gave him 13 children in 16 years. She was not a handsome woman, by all accounts, but had a 'quiet and amiable character'. Grafton said that she had a 'tenderness and affection as mother of a numerous family.'
