The Age of George III

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Rockingham's second ministry (March-July 1782)

When Lord North resigned in March 1782, the king appointed Charles Watson-Wentworth, second Marquis of Rockingham as the new PM. Rockingham led the largest group in parliament and was opposed to the war against America. His reputation had been enhanced by the victory of the Americans - Rockingham had "got it right". George III was obliged to accept that Rockingham was the only man capable of managing parliament. The ministry was made up of staunch Rockingham supporters although Pitt the Younger refused to accept "minor office" in the administration. Pitt was new to parliament but decided that he was intended for greater things.

Before Rockingham kissed hands he demanded that the king should promise to accept all Rockingham's nominations for office. Rockingham insisted also that the king would agree in advance to approve of all the ministry's proposed legislation: Rockingham already had a policy ready for implementation. Consequently George III had to accept men he disliked in order to maintain his government: Rockingham himself, Shelburne as Home Secretary and Fox as Foreign Secretary.

All Rockingham's measures were passed. His achievements included

• The formal acknowledgement of American independence, despite quarrels between Fox and Shelburne over America's status and to whose department it belonged - Home or Foreign Affairs.
• the repeal of the 1766 (Rockingham's own) Declaratory Act.
• the renaming of the two Secretaryships. The Secretary for the Northern Department became the Home Secretary and the Secretary for the Southern Department became the Foreign Secretary. The responsibilities of these two Secretaries were also rearranged. In 1794 the colonies became the responsibility of the newly created Secretary for War.
• the repeal of Poynings' Law and the Irish Declaratory Act (1716). Rockingham's policies for Ireland gave that country virtual freedom from Britain for the first time in almost 300 years.
• Burke's Establishment Bill transferred recruitment and finance from regimental commanders to the government.
• the Contractors' Act barred government contractors from being MPs.
• the Customs House and Excise Act disenfranchised thousands of revenue and excise men.
• Burke's Act for Oeconomical Reform attempted to satisfy the country gentlemen's demands for cheaper government. The Act was double-edged: it provided for cheaper government and cuts in government spending to restrict the power of the Crown:
• 40 sinecure jobs at the king's disposal were abolished. This reduced royal power in parliament - a typical and traditional Whig policy.
• the pensions list was reduced dramatically.

On 1 July 1782 Rockingham died, suddenly and unexpectedly, at the age of 52.