George III King and politicians 1760-1770

by Thomas, Peter D. G.

• ISBN13: 9780719064296
• ISBN10: 0719064295
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-10-31
• Publisher: Manchester University Press

Summary

In this fascinating book the author discusses the political story of the first decade of the reign of George III, one of the most controversial figures in modern British history. George III has often been blamed for the loss of Britain's American colonies in an attempt to restore royal power. Peter D.G. Thomas confirms Namier's findings that George III was not seeking to advance royal power and throws light on the extent to which a system of party politics existed at the time. Although the structure of British politics revealed by Namier provides the setting for this study, America, India, and Ireland are also considered here as important issues of the time.

Author Biography

Peter D.G. Thomas is Emeritus Professor of History, University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
The parameters of politics	1	(23)
The political scenario in 1760	24	(18)
Pitt and Newcastle (1760--1762): war and peace	42	(24)
The Bute ministry (1762--1763): peace and cider	66	(29)
The Grenville ministry (1763--1765): Wilkes and America	95	(30)
The first Rockingham ministry (1765--1766): the Stamp Act Crisis	125	(23)
The Chatham ministry I. The year of Charles Townshend (1766--1767): India and America	148	(32)
The Chatham ministry II. Grafton as caretaker (1767--1768): political re-alignments	180	(17)
The Grafton ministry (1768--1770): the Middlesex Election and the Townshend Duties Crisis	197	(22)
George III, Lord North and the defeat of `faction' (1770)	219	(18)
Conclusion: factions or parties?	237	(5)
Bibliography	242	(13)
Index	255