什麼是華爾波爾

Walpole, Robert

受封爲歐佛伯爵（Earl of Orford）

英國政治家。常被視爲英國首任首相。1701年當選議員，成爲輝格黨少壯派領袖之一。1708～1710年任陸軍大臣，1710～1711年任海軍財務總監。他也是基特－卡特俱樂部的成員。執政的託利黨爲了除掉他，1712年他以貪污的罪名遭彈劾，被革出下院並關入倫敦塔。1714年喬治一世即位，他出任軍需總監，任財政委員會首席委員兼財政大臣（1715～1717，1721～1742）。雖然與南海騙局醜聞有關，他仍重返政府，任軍需總監。自1727年培養喬治二世對他的支持。他利用這種支持達到各種政治目的。他在宮廷和財務部門培植起的派系，成爲輝格黨的力量核心。外交事務經常困擾他。他運用對國王的一切影響，使英國保持中立。直到1739年被迫對西班牙宣戰（詹金斯的耳朵戰爭）。1742年華爾波爾被迫辭職。並封伯爵。他所收藏的藝術品於1779年賣給俄國，成爲愛爾米塔什博物館的收藏品。

1676～1745年

Walpole, Robert

English statesman generally regarded as the first British prime minister. Elected to the House of Commons in 1701, he became an active Whig parliamentarian. He served as secretary at war 1708-10, and as treasurer of the navy 1710-11. He was also a member of the Kit-Cat Club. The Tory government sought to remove his influence by impeaching him for corruption, and he was expelled from the Commons in 1712. With the accession of George I (1714), he regained his position and rose rapidly to become first lord of the treasury and chancellor of the exchequer (1715-17, 1721-42). Though associated with the South Sea Bubble scandal, he restored confidence in the government and maintained the Whigs in office. He cultivated the support of George II from 1727 and used royal patronage for political ends, skillfully managing the House of Commons to win support for his trade and fiscal programs, including the sinking fund. With his consolidation of power, he effectively became the first British prime minister. He avoided foreign entanglements and kept England neutral until 1739, but was forced into the War of Jenkins' Ear. He resigned under pressure in 1742 and was created an earl. His acclaimed art collection, sold to Russia in 1779, became part of the Hermitage Museum collection.