ABSTRACT
Lewis Namier might have had the Grenville faction in mind when he revolutionized the study of pre-1832 British history by suggesting that much of high parliamentary politics represented not ideological struggles between Whigs and Tories but factional conflict in the pursuit of sinecures, pensions, and court jobs. On 27 January 1806 the Courier newspaper no doubt reflected public opinion when, at the commencement of Grenville's premiership, it described the Grenville family as 'gorged with places and pensions'. Grenville was important in providing the main body of the Whigs with their only major experience in national public office between 1783 and 1830. It is difficult to believe that George III would ever have called Charles James Fox, Charles Grey or Lord Holland to his councils without the healing presence of Lord Grenville as prime minister in 1806–7.
