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Walpole (SIR ROBERT EARL OF OXFORD)

SIR ROBERT, EARL OF OXFORD, an English statesman; younger son Sir Robert Walpole; born in Houghton, England, Aug. 26, 1676; was educated at Eton, and at King's College, Cambridge; succeeded to the paternal estate in 1700, and entered Parliament as member for Castle Rising.

In 1702 he was elected for King's Lynn, WALPURGA became an active member of the Whig party, and soon distinguished himself by his business capacity, and by his debates.

In 1712 he was expelled from Parliament for breach of trust and corruption, and sent to the Tower, but was returned to his seat the following year. He was Secretary of War and leader in the House of Commons in 1708, paymaster of the forces in 1714 and 1720, and first lord of the treasury and chancellor of the exchequer in 1715, and again in 1721, and prime minister from 1715-1717 and from 1721-1742. During his long administration the Hanoverian succession, to which he was zealously attached, became firmly established, a result to which his prudence and political sagacity largely contributed. He relieved the weight of taxation by many improvements in the tariff. In 1724 he was made a Knight of the Bath, in 1726 a Knight of the Garter, and in 1742 was created Earl of Orford. As. able monograph on Walpole has been published by John Morley. He died in Houghton, England, March 18, 1745.