Grafton Ministry

Duke of Grafton

The Grafton Ministry was the British government headed by Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton which served between 14 October 1768 – 28 January 1770. Grafton and most of the members had previously been part of the Chatham Ministry, and the Grafton Ministry was in effect a continuation of that government. Grafton was in favour of reconciliation with the American colonies, rather than coercion.

The government was widely criticised for its handling of foreign affairs, particularly for allowing the Republic of Corsica, a British ally, to fall to the French during the Corsican Crisis. It was subject to a series of attacks in what became known as the Junius Letters. It was replaced by the North Ministry which was to last until 1782.

Major figures

• William Nassau de Zuylestein, 4th Earl of Rochford - Northern Secretary
• Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath - Southern Secretary
• Lord North - Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Sir Edward Hawke - First Lord of the Admiralty
• The Viscount Townshend - Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
• The Lord Camden - Lord Chancellor

Bibliography

• Black, Jeremy. William Pitt. Cambridge University Press, 1992.
• Whiteley, Peter. Lord North: The Prime Minister who lost America. The Hambledon Press, 1996.

Preceded by Chatham Ministry

British ministries 1768–1770

Succeeded by North Ministry