Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham

The Marquess of Rockingham
Prime Minister of Great Britain
In office
27 March 1782 – 1 July 1782
MonarchGeorge III
Preceded byLord North
Succeeded byThe Earl of Shelburne
In office
13 July 1765 – 30 July 1766
MonarchGeorge III
Preceded byGeorge Grenville
Succeeded byWilliam Pitt the Elder
Personal details
Born
Charles Watson-Wentworth

(1730-05-13)13 May 1730
Wentworth, Yorkshire, England
Died1 July 1782(1782-07-01) (aged 52)
Wimbledon, England
Resting placeYork Minster, York, England
Political partyWhig
Spouse
(m. 1752)
Parent
Alma materSt John's College, Cambridge
Signature
Arms of Watson, of Rockingham Castle: Argent, on a chevron engrailed azure between three martlets sable as many crescents.

Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, (13 May 1730 – 1 July 1782; styled The Hon. Charles Watson-Wentworth before 1739, Viscount Higham between 1739 and 1746, Earl of Malton between 1746 and 1750, and The Marquess of Rockingham from 1750) was a British Whig statesman and magnate, most notable for his two terms as Prime Minister of Great Britain. He became the patron of many Whigs, known as the Rockingham Whigs, and served as a leading Whig grandee. He served in only two high offices during his lifetime (prime minister and leader of the House of Lords) but was nonetheless very influential during his one and a half years of service.