Who was the first Prime Minister of Great Britain?

The first Prime Minister of Great Britain was Robert Walpole. He is traditionally regarded as the country’s first prime minister because he became the dominant government minister in 1721.

Walpole formally held offices including First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Leader of the House of Commons. His political influence grew after the South Sea Bubble financial crisis of 1720, and he helped restore confidence in the government and public finances. His tenure is generally dated from 1721 to 1742.

The title “Prime Minister” was not yet an official constitutional office, and Walpole himself rejected the description. It was initially used partly as an insult, so historians describe him as the de facto first prime minister. The role developed gradually from the older position of chief minister rather than being created by a single law.

A common mix-up is confusing Great Britain with the United Kingdom. Great Britain was formed by the 1707 union of England and Scotland; the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was created in 1801. Walpole is therefore also commonly called Britain’s first prime minister, though the modern office evolved over time.