Second Rockingham ministry

This is a list of the principal holders of government office during the second premiership of the Marquess of Rockingham for four months in 1782.

Second Rockingham ministry
March–July 1782
Rockingham (after Joshua Reynolds)
Date formed27 March 1782 (1782-03-27)
Date dissolved1 July 1782 (1782-07-01)
People and organisations
MonarchGeorge III
Prime MinisterLord Rockingham
Total no. of members16 appointments
Member partyRockingham Whigs
Status in legislatureMajority
234 / 449

Opposition partyGrenvillites
History
Legislature terms15th GB Parliament
PredecessorNorth ministry
SuccessorShelburne ministry

The North ministry resigned on 22 March 1782 after losing the confidence of Parliament following the British defeat at the siege of Yorktown during the American War of Independence. Whig Lord Rockingham, Prime Minister from 1765 to 1766, formed a government. The Rockingham Whigs had generally been sympathetic to the cause of the Colonists and under Rockingham the British government began the negotiations leading to the Peace of Paris that concluded the war.

The death of Rockingham on 1 July 1782 caused a split in the ministry. The Home Secretary Lord Shelburne was appointed to succeed him, but several members of the government refused to serve under him and resigned. These "Portland Whigs" (named after their nominal leader, the Duke of Portland, but in reality led by Charles James Fox) allied in opposition with Lord North and brought down the Shelburne ministry in 1783. The Portland Whigs came to power as the Fox–North coalition.

Cabinet

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Portfolio Minister Took office Left office
(head of ministry)27 March 1782 (1782-03-27)1 July 1782 (1782-07-01)
Lord Chancellor3 June 1778 (1778-06-03)7 April 1783 (1783-04-07)
Lord President of the Council27 March 1782 (1782-03-27)2 April 1783 (1783-04-02)
Lord Privy Seal1782 (1782)1783 (1783)
Chancellor of the Exchequer27 March 1782 (1782-03-27)10 July 1782 (1782-07-10)
Secretary of State for the Home Department27 March 1782 (1782-03-27)10 July 1782 (1782-07-10)
27 March 1782 (1782-03-27)5 July 1782 (1782-07-05)
First Lord of the Admiralty1782 (1782)1783 (1783)
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster17 April 1782 (1782-04-17)29 August 1783 (1783-08-29)
Master-General of the Ordnance1782 (1782)1783 (1783)
Commander-in-Chief of the Forces1782 (1782)1783 (1783)

Ministers not in Cabinet

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References

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  • Cook, Chris; Stevenson, John (1980). British Historical Facts: 1760–1830. Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 978-0-333-21512-8.
Preceded by Government of Great Britain
1782
Succeeded by