Charles Watson-Wentworth

Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (May 13, 1730-July 1, 1782) was Prime Minister of England.

Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, KG, PC, FRS, FSA(May 13, 1730-July 1, 1782) was a British Whig politician who served twice as Prime Minister from July 1765 to July 1766 and from March to July 1782. Rockingham was born in a noble family in Yorkshire. In his early years, he was called Viscount Hain and Earl of Morton. In 1750, he inherited the title of his father. He was later named Marquis Rockingham and joined the House of Lords in the following year. Rockinham gained the trust of George II in his early years in politics, but since George III ascended the throne in 1760, George III's relationship with the royal family gradually became estranged because of his favor with the Tories. However, relying on his status and financial resources, he gradually became one of the important leaders in the Whig Party and formed a faction called the "Rockinham Whigs" in the parliament. In July 1765, the Marquis of Rockingham became prime minister with the support of King George III's royal uncle, Duke Cumberland. The greatest achievement during his tenure was the abolition of the Stamp Act enacted by the previous government and the cancellation of the original plan to levy stamp duty on the colonies of thirteen North American states., thereby eliminating the dissatisfaction of the local people. However, due to Luo Jinhan's lack of experience, he had certain difficulties in forming a cabinet at the beginning. In addition, the government did not receive the full support of George III, and party strife emerged within the cabinet, which eventually prompted Luo Kinhan to decide to resign in July 1766 a year after becoming prime minister.

After resigning as Prime Minister, Marquis Rockingham stayed in opposition for 16 years, during which time he remained in the opposition and did not serve in the cabinet. It was not until March 1782, when Lord North of the Tory Party resigned as Prime Minister due to the defeat of the British army in the American Revolutionary War. George III had to call Rockingham to form a cabinet for the second time. During his second term, he was the first to recognize American independence, and greatly expanded the legislative functions of the Irish Parliament. In addition, he reorganized the cabinet system and created the first two positions of Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary. However, before Luo Jinhan witnessed the formal signing of the Treaty of Paris between Britain and the United States in 1783, which ended the war, he suddenly died of illness on July 1, 1782. He served for only more than two months and was 52 years old. After his death, British politics was once plunged into a constitutional crisis. It was not until the Tory Party Peter Jr. became prime minister in December 1783 that political stability was restored.