| Date | 1806 |
|---|---|
| Reference | EPM-0006 |
| Volume | Eton Prime Ministers, Volume 1 |
| Collection | Eton Prime Ministers |
| Born: | 25 Oct 1759 |
| Died: | 12 Jan 1834 |
| Affiliation: | Whig |
| PM: | 11 Feb 1806 to 25 Mar 1807 |
| Length: | 1 year, 42 days |
| Title: | 25 Nov 1790 – 12 Jan 1834: 1st Baron Grenville |
| At Eton: | Probably 1770 to 1776 |
| Timeline: | 1759: Born in Wotton Underwood, Buckinghamshire. Youngest son of George Grenville, former Prime Minister. 1770s: Educated at Eton College, then Christ Church, Oxford gaining a degree in the Classics. Later studied law at Lincoln’s Inn. 1782: Entered Parliament as MP for Buckingham. He began his political career under the patronage of his cousin William Pitt the Younger. 1784: Appointed Paymaster of the Forces and sworn into the Privy Council. 1790: Appointed Foreign Secretary (1791–1801), playing a major role in European diplomacy during the French Revolutionary Wars. 1799: Created Baron Grenville, entering the House of Lords. 1806: In February, he became Prime Minister (1806–1807) of the “Ministry of All the Talents”, a coalition government including Charles James Fox and other Whigs. 1807: Oversees the passage of the Slave Trade Act 1807, which abolished the British transatlantic slave trade — his most lasting achievement. 1807: On 31st March, the Government fell over the Catholic emancipation issue; Grenville resigned as Prime Minister. 1807–1834: Remained an active member of the House of Lords, generally in opposition. Advocates for Catholic emancipation, education reform, and foreign policy restraint. 1834: Died at Burnham, Buckinghamshire, aged 74. |
| Notable: | Grenville succeeded in passing legislation to abolish the slave trade, which was a historic achievement. He was an advocate for Catholic emancipation. |
| Sources: | History of the UK Government The Victorian Web Britannica Eton College National Portrait Gallery Museum of Prime Ministers Wikipedia Hansard (1803–2005) |
| Windlesora: |