George Nugent Temple Grenville

George Nugent Temple Grenville

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From 'Prince of Pleasure - The Prince of Wales and the Making of the Regency' by Saul David, Abacus:

p.210: After William Pitt resigned as Prime Minister on 5 February 1801 following King George III's opposition to his policy of Catholic emancipation in Ireland, and the King suffered a relapse of his 1788-9 illness (possibly porphyria) on Friday 13 February 1801, and the Marquess of Buckingham, together with Charles Fox, Addington, Lord Moira, the Duke of Norfolk, Sheridan, the Duke of Northumberland and Earl Spencer, were consulted by the Prince of Wales (later King George IV) - then in residence at Carlton House - about the possible formation of a new government. Charles Fox would have been front runner as Prime Minister. These discussions came to nothing though, because the King recovered fairly quickly, and the next government was formed by Addington, who had previously been selected by the King. (The King wasn't pleased by his son's political involvements, nor by the debts he accumulated, nor by his womanising and life style).

p.219: "Fox.... was keen for the Prince to take a more active role in politics. In November 1803....... Fox warned Grey that 'by supporting or even sparing Addington for fear of Pitt, we are making ourselves complete Court tools or absolute cyphers'. If only the Prince would 'take a decided part against the present system, he would soon find himself at the head of a great and respectable party....... and I think it most probable that great numbers even of Pitt's friends would (without entirely breaking with their leader) range under his standard.' Fox was particularly referring to the Grenvillites - led by Lord Grenville and his brother the Marquess of Buckingham - who, like him, were opposed to Addington's conduct of the war on the one hand, and supportive of Catholic emancipation on the other. However, the Prince's enthusiasm for the latter policy seemed to be waning..............."