An Enlightenment Statesman in Whig Britain: Lord Shelburne in Context, 1737-1805 (Studies in Early Modern Cultural, Political and Social History, 11)

A new assessment of the life and political career of Lord Shelburne, prime minister 1782-83, and of the context in which he lived. Although Lord Shelburne was prime minister for only a short period, 1782-83 - but a key period in which peace with the newly-independent United States was concluded - he was an extremely interesting politician, a supporter of the crown, but also connected to continental philosophers and intellectuals. Lord Shelburne, Prime Minister in 1782-83, was a profoundly important politician, whose achievements included the negotiation of the peace with the newly-independent United States. This book constitutes a major and long overdue reappraisal of the politician considered by Disraeli to be the 'most neglected Prime Minister'. The book indicates, caters for, and leads the revival of interest in high politics, including its gendered aspects. It covers Shelburne's friends, his finances, and his politics, and places him carefully within both an international and a national context. For the first time his complicated but compelling family life, his satisfying relations with women, and his Irish ancestry are presented as essential factors for understanding his public impact overall. Shelburne was a politician, patron, and cultural leader whose relationship to many of the ideas, influences, and individuals of the European Enlightenment are also emphasised. The book is thoroughly up to date, written by leading authorities in the field, and predominantly based on unpublished primary research. Shelburne and his circle constituted one of the most important [and progressive] elements in British and European politics during the second half of the eighteenth century, and the book will appeal to all readers interested in the Enlightenment. NIGEL ASTON is Reader in Early Modern History in the School of Historical Studies at the University of Leicester; CLARISSA CAMPBELL ORR is Reader in Enlightenment, Gender and Court Studies at Anglia Ruskin University Introduction / Nigel Aston And Clarissa Campbell Orr -- Petty And Fitzmaurice : Lord Shelburne And His Brother / Nigel Aston -- Aunts, Wives, Courtiers : The Ladies Of Bowood / Clarissa Campbell Orr -- A Christian Whig : Lord Shelburne And The Latitudinarian Tradition / G.m. Ditchfield -- Lord Shelburne, Finance And Sir Frances Baring / John Orbell -- Shelburne : A Chathamite In Opposition And In Government 1760-82? / Frank O'gorman -- Shelburne And Ireland : Politician, Patriot, Absentee / Martyn J. Powell -- Lord Shelburne's Ministry, 1782-3 : 'a Very Good List' / John Cannon -- Shelburne, The European Powers, And The Peace Of 1783 / Andrew Stockley -- 'opening The Door To Truth And Liberty' : Bowood's French Connection / Robin Eagles -- Lord Shelburne's Constitutional Views In 1782-3 / Edmond Dziembowski -- Jeremy Bentham At Bowood / Emmanuelle De Champs -- Shelburne And Perpetual Peace : Small States, Commerce, And International Relations Within The Bowood Circle / Richard Whatmore. Edited By Nigel Aston And Clarissa Campbell Orr. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Frontcover 1 CONTENTS 6 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 8 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS 9 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 12 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 14 INTRODUCTION 20 Part One: Family, Piety, and Finance 46 1 Petty and Fitzmaurice: Lord Shelburne and his Brother 48 2 Aunts, Wives, Courtiers: The Ladies of Bowood 70 3 A Christian Whig: Lord Shelburne and the Latitudinarian Tradition 98 4 Lord Shelburne, Finance, and Sir Francis Baring 116 Part Two: Politics 134 5 Shelburne: A Chathamite in Opposition and in Government 1760–82? 136 6 Shelburne and Ireland: Politician, Patriot, Absentee 160 7 Lord Shelburne’s Ministry, 1782–3: ‘A Very Good List’ 180 8 Shelburne, the European Powers, and the Peace of 1783 196 Part Three: The Bowood Circle Revisited 214 9 ‘Opening the Door to Truth and Liberty’: Bowood’s French Connection 216 10 Lord Shelburne’s Constitutional Views in 1782–3 234 11 Jeremy Bentham at Bowood 252 12 Shelburne and Perpetual Peace: Small States, Commerce, and International Relations within the Bowood Circle 268 INDEX 294 Backcover 310