| Name |
Portrait |
Entered office |
Left office |
Political party |
Other ministerial offices held |
Notes and key events |
|
Sir Robert Walpole
(from 1742 as Earl of Orford) |
 |
4 april 1721 |
11 February 1742 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons |
Regarded as the first Prime Minister in the modern sense; The South Sea Company bubble; criticised for Great Britain's poor performance in the War of Jenkins' Ear. |
|
The Earl of Wilmington |
 |
16 februar 1742 |
2 jul 1743 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury |
Increased tax on spirits; in poor health for much of his time as Prime Minister, the government was led de facto by John Carteret. |
|
Henry Pelham |
 |
27 August 1743 |
6 March 1754 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons |
Reorganisation of the Royal Navy; 1745 Jacobite Rebellion; adoption of the Gregorian Calendar; Marriage Act 1753; helped end the War of the Austrian Succession. |
|
The Duke of Newcastle
(1st term) |
 |
16 March 1754 |
16 November 1756 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Led Great Britain into the Seven Years' War with France in North America. |
|
The Duke of Devonshire |
 |
16 November 1756 |
25 June 1757 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
The government was largely run by William Pitt the Elder. |
|
The Duke of Newcastle
(2nd term) |
 |
2 jul 1757 |
26 May 1762 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Great Britain gained more influence abroad in the Seven Years' War; the war was largely prosecuted by Pitt the Elder as Secretary of State. |
|
The Earl of Bute |
 |
26 May 1762 |
8 april 1763 |
Tory |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Ended the dominance of the Whigs and the Seven Years' War. |
|
George Grenville |
 |
16 april 1763 |
13 jul 1765 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons |
Lowered domestic tax at the expense of the colonies; introduced the Stamp Act 1765 (which ultimately led to the American Revolution). |
|
The Marquess of Rockingham
(1st term) |
 |
13 jul 1765 |
30 jul 1766 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Repealed the controversial Stamp Act, inspired by protests from both American colonists and British manufacturers who were hurt by it. |
|
The Earl of Chatham, "William Pitt the Elder" |
 |
30 jul 1766 |
14 October 1768 |
Whig |
Lord Privy Seal |
The first real Imperialist; credited with the birth of the British Empire; indirectly responsible for the French Revolution (due to Great Britain's defeat of France in Canada). |
|
The Duke of Grafton |
 |
14 October 1768 |
28 January 1770 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Attempted to reconcile with the American colonies. |
|
Lord North |
 |
28 January 1770 |
22 March 1782 |
Tory |
First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons |
Led Great Britain into the American Revolution, making a number of tactical errors; the Gordon Riots; resigned after a vote of no confidence. |
|
The Marquess of Rockingham
(2nd term) |
 |
27 March 1782 |
1 jul 1782 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Acknowledged the independence of the United States; began a process of political reform (however died in office). |
|
The Earl of Shelburne |
 |
4 jul 1782 |
2 april 1783 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Planned political reform; secured peace with the United States, France and Spain. |
|
The Duke of Portland
(1st term) |
 |
2 april 1783 |
19 December 1783 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Titular head of the Fox-North Coalition. Attempted to reform the British East India Company, but was blocked by George III. |
|
William Pitt the Younger
(1st term) |
 |
19 December 1783 |
14 March 1801 |
Tory |
First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons |
India Act 1784; attempted to remove rotten boroughs; personally opposed to the slave trade; reduced the national debt due to the rebellion in the North American colonies; formed the Triple Alliance; Constitutional Act of 1791; war with France starting in 1793; introduced the first income tax; Act of Union 1800. |
| Name |
Portrait |
Entered office |
Left office |
Political party |
Other ministerial offices held |
Notes and key events |
|
Henry Addington |
 |
17 March 1801 |
10 May 1804 |
Tory |
First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons |
Negotiated the Treaty of Amiens with France in 1802. |
|
William Pitt the Younger
(2nd term) |
 |
10 May 1804 |
23 January 1806 |
Tory |
First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons |
Alliance with Russia, Austria and Sweden against France (Third Coalition); Battle of Trafalgar; Battle of Ulm; Battle of Austerlitz. |
|
The Lord Grenville |
 |
11 February 1806 |
31 March 1807 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Abolition of the slave trade. |
|
The Duke of Portland
(2nd term) |
 |
31 March 1807 |
4 October 1809 |
Tory |
First Lord of the Treasury |
Headed a Tory government; was old and ill, leaving the Cabinet to their own devices (largely headed by Spencer Perceval). |
|
Spencer Perceval |
 |
4 October 1809 |
11 May 1812 |
Tory |
First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster & Leader of the House of Commons |
Descent of George III into madness; his administration was notable for the lack of senior statesmen (Perceval also served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer); Peninsular War, part of the Napoleonic Wars; as of 2008, the only Prime Minister to have been assassinated. |
|
The Earl of Liverpool |
 |
8 June 1812 |
9 april 1827 |
Tory |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Oversaw the United Kingdom's victory in the Napoleonic Wars; the Congress of Vienna; an economic recession in 1817; The War of 1812 (in Britain, the American War of 1812 to 1815); Peterloo Massacre in 1819; return to the gold standard in 1819; the Cato Street Conspiracy to assassinate Liverpool in 1820. |
|
George Canning |
 |
10 april 1827 |
8 August 1827 |
Tory |
First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons |
Died shortly after taking office. |
|
The Viscount Goderich |
 |
31 August 1827 |
21 January 1828 |
Tory |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Lacked support amongst colleagues; resigned. |
|
The Duke of Wellington
(1st term) |
 |
22 January 1828 |
16 November 1830 |
Tory |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Catholic Emancipation Bill (over which he fought a duel). |
|
The Earl Grey |
 |
22 November 1830 |
9 jul 1834 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Reform Act 1832; restriction of employment of children; abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire. |
|
The Viscount Melbourne
(1st term) |
 |
16 jul 1834 |
14 November 1834 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
William IV's opposition forced him to resign. |
|
The Duke of Wellington
(2nd term) |
 |
14 November 1834 |
10 December 1834 |
Tory |
First Lord of the Treasury, Secretary of State for the Home Department, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies & Leader of the House of Lords |
Caretaker government while Sir Robert Peel was located and returned to London. Held many of the major posts himself. |
|
Sir Robert Peel
(1st term) |
 |
10 December 1834 |
8 April 1835 |
Conservative |
First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer & Leader of the House of Commons |
Unable to form a majority in Parliament so resigned. |
|
The Viscount Melbourne
(2nd term) |
 |
18 April 1835 |
30 August 1841 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
A father figure to Queen Victoria; Municipal Corporations Act 1835. |
|
Sir Robert Peel
(2nd term) |
 |
30 August 1841 |
29 June 1846 |
Conservative |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons |
Mines Act 1842; Factory Act 1844; Railway Act 1844; repeal of the Corn Laws (triggered by the Great Irish Potato Famine). |
|
The Lord John Russell
(1st term)
(afterwards PM as Earl Russell) |
 |
30 June 1846 |
21 February 1852 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons |
Education Act 1847; Australian Colonies Act 1850; improved the Poor Law. |
|
The Earl of Derby
(1st term) |
 |
23 February 1852 |
17 December 1852 |
Conservative |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Government collapsed when his Chancellor's Budget was defeated. |
|
The Earl of Aberdeen |
 |
19 December 1852 |
30 January 1855 |
Peelite/Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Led the country into the Crimean War; resigned after defeat in the vote for an enquiry into the conduct of the war. First and last Peelite Prime Minister. |
|
The Viscount Palmerston
(1st term) |
 |
6 February 1855 |
19 February 1858 |
Whig |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons |
Responded to the Indian mutiny of 1857; introduced the India Bill. |
|
The Earl of Derby
(2nd term) |
 |
20 February 1858 |
11 June 1859 |
Conservative |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Government of India Act 1858, transferring ownership of the East India Company to the Crown; Jews Relief Act, allowing Jews to become MPs. |
|
The Viscount Palmerston
(2nd term) |
 |
12 June 1859 |
18 October 1865 |
Liberal |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons |
Between periods in office he founded the Liberal Party; died in office. |
|
The Earl Russell
(2nd term)
(previously PM as Lord John Russell) |
 |
29 October 1865 |
26 June 1866 |
Liberal |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Attempted to introduce a further Reform Bill, but was opposed by his Cabinet. |
|
The Earl of Derby
(3rd term) |
 |
28 June 1866 |
25 February 1868 |
Conservative |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Lords |
Reform Act 1867; considered by some to be the father of the modern Conservative Party. |
|
Benjamin Disraeli
(1st term) |
|
27 February 1868 |
1 December 1868 |
Conservative |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons |
The UK's first and, as of 2007, only, Prime Minister from Jewish ancestry; dissolved Parliament as the Conservatives did not have a majority. |
|
William Ewart Gladstone
(1st term) |
 |
3 December 1868 |
17 February 1874 |
Liberal |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons 3 December 1868 - 17 February 1874; Chancellor of the Exchequer 11 August 1873 - 17 February 1874 |
Introduced reforms to the British Army, Civil Service and local government; made peacetime flogging illegal; Ballot Act 1872; failed to prevent the Franco-Prussian War. |
|
Benjamin Disraeli
(2nd term)
(from 1876 as Earl of Beaconsfield) |
|
20 February 1874 |
21 April 1880 |
Conservative |
First Lord of the Treasury 20 February 1874 - 21 April 1880; Leader of the House of Commons 20 February 1874 - 21 August 1876; Leader of the House of Lords 21 August 1876 - 21 April 1880; Lord Privy Seal 21 August 1876 - 2 April 1878 |
Various reforms including the Climbing Boys Act 1875, the Public Health Act 1875 and the Employers and Workmen Act 1878; Congress of Berlin; breaking up of the League of the Three Emperors, the Zulu War. |
|
William Ewart Gladstone
(2nd term) |
 |
23 April 1880 |
9 June 1885 |
Liberal |
First Lord of the Treasury & Leader of the House of Commons 23 April 1880 - 9 June 1885; Chancellor of the Exchequer 23 April 1880 - 16 December 1882 |
First Boer War; Irish Coercion Act; Redistribution of Seats Act 1885; Reform Act, 1884; failure to rescue General Gordon in Khartoum, Sudan. |
|
The Marquess of Salisbury
(1st term) |
 |
23 June 1885 |
28 January 1886 |
Conservative |
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs & Leader of the House of Lords |
Legislation providing for housing the working class. |
|
William Ewart Gladstone
(3rd term) |
 |
1 February 1886 |
20 jul 1886 |
Liberal |
First Lord of the Treasury, Lord Privy Seal & Leader of the House of Commons |
First introduction of the Home Rule Bill for Ireland, which split the Liberal Party, resulting in the end of Gladstone's government. |
|
The Marquess of Salisbury
(2nd term) |
 |
25 jul 1886 |
11 August 1892 |
Conservative |
Leader of the House of Lords 25 jul 1886 - 11 August 1892; First Lord of the Treasury 25 jul 1886 - January 14 1887; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs January 14 1887 - 11 August 1892 |
Opposed Irish home rule; Local Government Act 1888; Partition of Africa; Free Education Act 1891; creation of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). |
|
William Ewart Gladstone
(4th term) |
 |
15 August 1892 |
2 March 1894 |
Liberal |
First Lord of the Treasury, Lord Privy Seal & Leader of the House of Commons |
Reintroduction of the Home Rule Bill, which was passed by the House of Commons but rejected by the House of Lords leading to his resignation. |
|
The Earl of Rosebery |
 |
5 March 1894 |
22 June 1895 |
Liberal |
First Lord of the Treasury, Lord President of the Council & Leader of the House of Lords |
Imperialist; plans for expanding the Royal Navy caused disagreement within the Liberal Party; resigned following a vote of censure over military supplies. |
|
The Marquess of Salisbury
(3rd term) |
 |
25 June 1895 |
11 jul 1902 |
Conservative |
Leader of the House of Lords 25 June 1895 - 11 jul 1902; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 25 June 1895 - November 12 1900; Lord Privy Seal November 12 1900 - 11 jul 1902 |
Workmen's Compensation Act 1897; Second Boer War; Anglo-Japanese Alliance. |