‘He was a very inelegant speaker in Parliament, but spoke with a certain candour and openness that made him well heard and generally believed.’ So said the Earl of Chesterfield about Henry Pelham, the latest PM bio for the History of Government Blog. Dr Andrew Thompson, of Queens’ College Cambridge, writes that Pelham was also regarded for his integrity and ‘ unwillingness to enrich himself in public office.’

Read the Henry Pelham bio