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SUMMARY:Earl Temple at the Admiralty: Naval Administration and Politics un
 der the Pitt-Devonshire Ministry\, 1756-7 - Joshua Newton (King's College)
DTSTART:20100210T173000Z
DTEND:20100210T190000Z
UID:TALK22743@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Ilya Berkovich
DESCRIPTION:This paper examines naval administration under William Pitt th
 e Elder’s abortive first ministry in the opening months of the Seven Yea
 rs’ War. Pitt’s brother-in-law and financial benefactor\, the Earl Tem
 ple\, held the position of first lord of the Admiralty from mid November 1
 756 until early April 1757\, when his dismissal by George II precipitated 
 the fall of the ministry. Commonly regarded as one of the least distinguis
 hed holders of the office\, Temple’s term at the Admiralty was marked by
  frequent conflict with the king\, tension with the professional officers 
 of the navy\, bungled attempts to meddle in naval patronage and mockery fr
 om the press opponents of the new ministry. This paper reassesses Temple
 ’s tenure\, examining the political circumstances of his rise and his co
 nduct in office. Drawing on state papers\, private manuscripts and press a
 ccounts of the ministry\, the paper argues that the case of Temple is embl
 ematic of the recurrent tension throughout the eighteenth century between 
 career naval officers and political appointees at the Admiralty\, and offe
 rs some broader observations on the political culture of the mid-Hanoveria
 n British navy.
LOCATION:Seminar Room N7\, Pembroke College
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