John Stuart, Earl of Bute 1762-3 Tory
Only 11 months in office, Bute nevertheless ended both the predominance of the Whigs and the Seven Years War.Unpopular with the EnglishDespite bringing peace, Bute proved deeply unpopular in England for reasons including his nationality (many in England were still distrustful of the Scots after the Jacobite Rising of 1745 - 6). This led to written, verbal and physical attacks being made upon him and he resigned in 1763.He died in 1792, shortly after falling 28 feet down some cliffs near his home, and was buried, appropriately, on the Isle of Bute in Scotland.Quote unquoteDuring a debate on the cider tax: "A noble duke knows the difficulty to choose proper taxes."Did you know?The Earl of Bute was the first Scottish-born PM, and the first Tory to hold the office.WifeMary Wortley Montague was said to be 'plain but dutiful' and loyal to her husband. Marrying at 18, she went on to deliver 11 children in 18 years. Intelligent and witty, her mother was a popular author although after her death, Mary became embarrassed by her mother's reputation and burned her diary to avoid further interest in her life. |
