ABSTRACT

He entered politics in 1739, when he came of age. He attached himself to the Duke of Bedford, under whom he was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty in 1744: in the duke’s absence, he was the nominal head, and in 1748, when the duke became Secretary of State (Foreign Secretary), he became First Lord, though he left ANSON to do the work. At this time, he seems to have taken a serious interest in the work, and the correction of many abuses in the dockyards was carried out in his name, though the work was probably Anson’s. Political infighting saw him sacked in 1751.