(born April 13, 1732, London, Eng.—died Aug. 5, 1792, London) English prime minister (1770–82). Elected to Parliament at age 22, he served as lord of the treasury (1759–65) and as chancellor of the Exchequer (1767–70).
As prime minister, he gave vacillating support to both harsh and conciliatory measures toward the American colonies before the American Revolution. Although only a halfhearted supporter of the war, he was a pliant agent of George III. He resigned on hearing the news of Charles Cornwallis's defeat at the Siege of Yorktown. In 1783 he formed a brief coalition with his former Whig opponent Charles James Fox.
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