Sir Robert Walpole
Sir Robert Walpole is largely regarded as one of the most able and accomplished politicians in British history. He was a member of the Whig Party and was appointed by Queen Anne in 1705 to be a member of the council for her husband, Prince George of Denmark, Lord High Admiral. In 1708, he was made Secretary at War and in 1710 he was simultaneously Treasurer of the Navy.
In 1710 the Whig Party fell out of favor and a Tory ministry formed under the leadership of Robert Harley. Sir. Robert Walpole was removed from Secretary of War but stayed as Treasurer of the Navy until 1711. In 1712, Walpole faced charges of venality and corruption regarding two forage contracts for Scotland. He proved that kept none of the money but he was still found guilty by the House of Lords and impeached by the House of Commons. He was then imprisoned in the Tower of London.
During his imprisonment, he was largely seen as a martyr for the Whig party and was visited by all of the Whig leaders. He was released after six months and then spent his time creating anonymous pamphlets that spoke out against the Harley ministry. After a change in government he became a prominent member in the administration. He was made First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Commons in 1721. It is at this point that his de facto tenure as “Prime Minister” is said to begin. His brother-in-law Lord Townshend became Secretary of State.
As the political power of the monarchy declined, the power of Parliament under the leadership of Walpole grew. Even when George II took the throne both Walpole and Townshend remained in power though Walpole became the dominant leader in the government. When Townshend retired in 1730, Walpole was in complete control. He remained in office until 1742 and he is considered today to be the longest serving Prime Minister in British history.