Rockingham, Marquess of (1730-1782), served as prime minister of Great Britain (now also called the United Kingdom) from July 1765 to July 1766 and from March to July 1782. His Whig administration repealed the Stamp Act of 1765 which had so angered the North American colonists. In Parliament, Rockingham led a group—the “Rockingham Whigs”—that opposed Britain’s policies leading to the American Revolution (1775-1783). Britain’s major defeat at Yorktown, Virginia, in late 1781 brought Rockingham back to power along with a new group of British ministers early in 1782. The new administration began peace talks with the Americans in April 1782. However, Rockingham’s health was failing, and he died three months after resuming office.
Rockingham was born Charles Watson-Wentworth on May 13, 1730. He was the eighth of 10 children born to Thomas Watson-Wentworth, 1st Marquess of Rockingham. Young Charles was educated at Westminster School. He gained the title of 2nd Marquess of Rockingham in 1750, and he entered Parliament in 1751. Rockingham married Mary Bright in 1752, but they had no children. He died on July 1, 1782, in London.
