Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham

The Marquess of Rockingham

Periods in Office:	13 July 1765 - 30 July 1766 27 March 1782 - 1 July 1782
PM Predecessor:	George Grenville Lord North
PM Successor:	William Pitt the Elder Lord Shelburne
Date of Birth:	13 May 1730
Place of Birth:	South Yorkshire, England
Political Party:	Whig

Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (May 13, 1730 -July 1, 1782), was an English politician, member of the Whig party, and twice Prime Minister of Great Britain.

A descendant of Thomas Wentworth, Charles was brought up at the family home of Wentworth Woodhouse near Rotherham in South Yorkshire. He was educated at Eton College and Cambridge University.

He took his seat in the House of Lords in 1751, following a brief period of military service, and in 1765 was appointed as Prime Minister by King George III following the resignation of George Grenville. During his term of office, he repealed the recent Stamp Act, and so reduced the tax burden on the colonies. However, internal dissent within the cabinet led to his replacement by Lord Chatham.

Watson-Wentworth spent the next sixteen years in opposition. He was a keen supporter of constitutional rights for colonists, and backed the claim for American independence. In 1782 he was appointed PM for a second time, and on taking office, acknowledged the independence of the United States, initiating an end to British involvement in the American Revolutionary War. He died 14 weeks later. Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States is named in his honour.

Rockingham's First Government, July 1765 - July 1766

• Lord Rockingham - First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Lords
• The Earl of Northington - Lord Chancellor
• The Earl of Winchilsea - Lord President of the Council
• The Duke of Newcastle - Lord Privy Seal
• William Dowdeswell - Chancellor of the Exchequer
• The Duke of Grafton - Secretary of State for the Northern Department
• Henry Seymour Conway - Secretary of State for the Southern Department and Leader of the House of Commons
• Lord Granby - Master-General of the Ordnance
• The Earl of Egmont - First Lord of the Admiralty

Rockingham's Second Government, March - July 1782

• Lord Rockingham - First Lord of the Treasury
• Lord Thurlow - Lord Chancellor
• Lord Camden - Lord President of the Council
• The Duke of Grafton - Lord Privy Seal
• Lord Shelburne - Secretary of State for the Home Department
• Charles James Fox - Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
• Lord Keppel - First Lord of the Admiralty
• Henry Seymour Conway - Commander in Chief of the Forces
• The Duke of Richmond - Master-General of the Ordnance
• Lord John Cavendish - Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Lord Ashburton - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Preceded by: George Grenville	Prime Minister of Great Britain 1765–1766	Followed by: The Earl of Chatham
Preceded by: Lord North	Prime Minister of Great Britain 1782	Followed by: The Earl of Shelburne

Preceded by: Thomas Watson-Wentworth

Marquess of Rockingham

Followed by: Extinct