British Prime Ministers From Walpole To Salisbury

How and why has the office of British Prime Minister lasted an incredible 300 years? Who have been the best, and worst?

This new two volume set of Dick Leonard's British Premiers trilogy, surveys the lives and careers of all the fifty-five Prime Ministers between Sir Robert Walpole (1721-42) and Boris Johnson (2019- ), bringing to life the political achievements and also the personal idiosyncrasies of Britain's rulers over nearly three centuries. Volume One surveys the lives and careers of all the 32 Prime Ministers from Sir Robert Walpole (1721-42) to Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery (1894-95) in 32 succinct, informative and entertaining chapters. Volume Two continues this survey on the remaining 23 Prime Ministers from Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour (1902-05) to Boris Johnson (2019-). This book will be of key interest to scholars, students and readers of British political history, the Executive, Government, and British Politics.

"Dick Leonard's British Prime Ministers from Walpole to Salisbury surveys the lives and careers of all the 32 Prime Ministers from Sir Robert Walpole (1721-42) to Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery (1894-95) in 32 succinct, informative and entertaining chapters. Bringing to life the political achievements and personal idiosyncrasies of Britain's rulers over the 18th and 19th centuries, the author recounts the circumstances which took them to the pinnacle of British political life, probes their political and personal strengths and weaknesses, assesses their performance in office and asks what lasting influence they have had. Along the way Leonard entertains and informs, revealing little-known facts about the private lives of each of the Prime Ministers such as who was suspected to be an illegitimate half-brother of George III, who was assassinated in the House of Commons, and who spent his evenings prowling the streets of London, trying to 'reform' prostitutes. This book can also form part of a two-volume set published by Routledge including the companion volume Modern British Prime Ministers from Balfour to Johnson. This book will be of key interest to scholars, students and readers of British political history, the Executive, Government, and British Politics"--

Dick Leonard’s British Prime Ministers from Walpole to Salisbury: The 18th and 19th Centuries surveys the lives and careers of all the 32 Prime Ministers from Sir Robert Walpole (1721–42) to Archibald Philip Primrose, fifth Earl of Rosebery (1894–95), in 32 succinct, informative and entertaining chapters. Bringing to life the political achievements and personal idiosyncrasies of Britain's rulers over the 18th and 19th centuries, the author recounts the circumstances which took them to the pinnacle of British political life, probes their political and personal strengths and weaknesses, assesses their performance in office and asks what lasting influence they have had. Along the way Leonard entertains and informs, revealing little-known facts about the private lives of each of the Prime Ministers, such as who was suspected to be an illegitimate half-brother of George III, who was assassinated in the House of Commons, and who spent his evenings prowling the streets of London, trying to "reform" prostitutes. This book can also form part of a two-volume set published by Routledge including the companion volume Modern British Prime Ministers from Balfour to Johnson. This book will be of key interest to scholars, students and readers of British political history, the Executive, government and British politics.

Dick Leonard's British Prime Ministers from Walpole to Salisbury surveys the lives and careers of all the 32 Prime Ministers from Sir Robert Walpole (1721-42) to Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery (1894-95) in 32 succinct, informative and entertaining chapters. Bringing to life the political achievements and personal idiosyncrasies of Britain's rulers over the 18th and 19th centuries, the author recounts the circumstances which took them to the pinnacle of British political life, probes their political and personal strengths and weaknesses, assesses their performance in office and asks what lasting influence they have had. Along the way Leonard entertains and informs, revealing little-known facts about the private lives of each of the Prime Ministers such as who was suspected to be an illegitimate half-brother of George III, who was assassinated in the House of Commons, and who spent his evenings prowling the streets of London , trying to 'reform' prostitutes. This book can also form part of a two-volume set published by Routledge including the companion volume Modern British Prime Ministers from Balfour to Johnson. This book will be of key interest to scholars, students and readers of British political history, the Executive, Government, and British Politics

"Dick Leonard's British Prime Ministers from Walpole to Salisbury surveys the lives and careers of all the 32 Prime Ministers from Sir Robert Walpole (1721-42) to Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery (1894-95) in 32 succinct, informative and entertaining chapters. Bringing to life the political achievements and personal idiosyncrasies of Britain's rulers over the 18th and 19th centuries, the author recounts the circumstances which took them to the pinnacle of British political life, probes their political and personal strengths and weaknesses, assesses their performance in office and asks what lasting influence they have had. Along the way Leonard entertains and informs, revealing little-known facts about the private lives of each of the Prime Ministers such as who was suspected to be an illegitimate half-brother of George III, who was assassinated in the House of Commons, and who spent his evenings prowling the streets of London, trying to 'reform' prostitutes. This book can also form part of a two-volume set published by Routledge including the companion volume Modern British Prime Ministers from Balfour to Johnson. This book will be of key interest to scholars, students and readers of British political history, the Executive, Government, and British Politics"--

A wide-ranging, comprehensive guide to the political lives of Britain's prime ministers.

"Gimson's Prime Ministers provides the perfect follow-up to Andrew Gimson's best-selling Gimson's Kings and Queens, providing an acerbic and illuminating meditation on the fifty-two men (and one woman) who have led our government for the last three centuries. From Walpole to May (but possibly not for long...), Gimson elucidates with his trademark wit, brevity and brilliant eye for vivid detail the lives and times of the powerful few who have shaped our modern political landscape. Discover the party leaders that have risen to the top, outfought opponents, slipped in silently and upturned precept and principle, and unearth the enduring qualities that unite all prime ministers: those of courage, eloquence, hunger for power, acuity, respectability, financial mastery, the ability to distribute patronage (keep those coffers happy), the capacity for hard work, a different style to the predecessor and of course...vulnerability. For the reader who has heard of such giants as Gladstone and Disraeli, and has drunk in a pub called the Palmerston, but has only the haziest idea of who these people were, Gimson's Prime Ministers offers a short account of them all which can be read for pleasure, and not just for edification. With Gimson's wonderful prose once again complemented by Martin Rowson's inimitable illustrations, this lively and entertaining aide-memoire and work of satirical genius bring our parliamentary history to life as never before."--

Dick Leonard’s Modern British Prime Ministers from Balfour to Johnson surveys the lives and careers of all the 24 Prime Ministers from Arthur Balfour to Boris Johnson in succinct, informative and entertaining chapters. Bringing to life the political achievements and personal idiosyncrasies of Britain's rulers over the 20th and 21st centuries, the author recounts the circumstances which took them to the pinnacle of British political life, probes their political and personal strengths and weaknesses, assesses their performance in office and asks what lasting influence they have had. Along the way Leonard entertains and informs, revealing little-known facts about the private lives of each of the Prime Ministers, for example, which two Premiers, one Tory, one Labour were taught by the same governess as a child? Who was thrashed at his public school for writing pornography and later donated one-fifth of his wealth to the nation? Who was awarded a fourth-class degree at Oxford and went on to father eight children? Who was described by his son as ‘probably the greatest natural Don Juan in the history of British politics'? This book can also form part of a two-volume set published by Routledge including the companion volume British Prime Ministers from Walpole to Salisbury: The 18th and 19th Centuries. This book will be of key interest to scholars, students and readers of British political history, the Executive, government, and British politics.