Though England has had a succession of Prime Ministers since at least the time of Sir Robert Walpole, chief minister to George I and George II, the title was for a long time merely an unofficial synonym for the head of the government. It had no legal recognition until 1905, when the office was regularized, its holder being assigned a place in the official order of precedence.

John Stuart, - Earl, of Bute title borne since 1703 by the family of Stuart. Its most famous holder was the 3rd earl.born May 25th 1713 in Scotland becoming earl in 1723. He acquired great influence over Frederick, Prince of Wales, and was appointed chamberlain to his son, afterwards George III., through whose favour he became secretary of state. in 1761, and ultimately, and prime minister in 1762. For a time Pitt and Newcastle alike had to give way to his influence, but though possessing the full confidence of the king he became unpopular and was forced to resign in 1763, and retired from public affairs to spend his leisure in literary and scientific pursuits, particularly in botany. He died March 10, 1792.

Augustus Henry Grafton, Third Duke born 1735. He was secretary of state under Rockingham, first lord of treasury under the elder Pitt, and premier during the illness of the latter (now lord Chatham). He subsequently held the privy seal under Lord North, and again under Rockingham, but ultimately gave up politics. He died n 1811. He is chiefly remembered as the subject of some of the most brilliant of the Letters of Junius.

Spencer Perceval (1762 - 1812), became premier in 1809, he was shot on May 11, 1812, by a bankrupt merchant named Bellingham, in the lobby of the House of Commons, and expired immediately. The murderer made no attempt to escape, though he might easily have succeeded in doing so amid the great confusion his sudden act had caused. He acknowledged the deed, but added that he had come to the House with the intention of shooting Lord Leveson Gower, by whom, while that gentleman had been British Ambassador in St. Petersburg, Bellingham imagined himself to have been unjustly treated.

Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield (1804-1881), was of Jewish blood on both sides, and in early life followed the Jewish faith. When he was still a boy his family formally left the Jewish communion, and he was baptised a Christian at St. Andrew's, Holborn, London, in July, 1817. In spite of this baptism, which made a political career possible. Disraeli remained a Jew in spirit all his life. He was twice Prime Minister in 1868 and again from 1874 to 1880. In addition to attaining to political pre-eminence he was also a distinguished author, and several of his novels achieved outstanding success

William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898) began his political career as Tory member for Newark, made his maiden speech in defence of slave labour (his father's estate in British Guiana was worked by slaves), and quickly achieving ministerial rank, was regarded as " the rising hope of the stern unbending Tories." As President of the Board of Trade he began to doubt the wisdom of protection; in 1851 a journey to Italy brought him to the fore as a champion of oppressed nations; as Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1853 he swept away protective duties and initiated university reform. Yet as late as 1859 he voted with the Tory party, and when in the same year he became Chancellor of the Exchequer under Lord Palmerston he may almost be said to have joined the Liberal party without knowing it. In 1868 he became Prime Minister of a Liberal government, a position held by him on three subsequent occasions.