Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (first tenure)

Prime Minister, Rockingham was made a colonel by his father aged 15 to organise volunteers against the Young Pretender, gaining acclaim for riding across the country to join the pursuit. He was raised to the peerage in 1750 but shortly afterwards inherited his father's estates and title. He was appointed Lord of the Bedchamber in 1752 and made an honorary Vice Admiral of the North in 1755. In 1760 he was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter, however, he lost influence upon the accession of George III and in 1762 resigned as Lord of the Bedchamber in protest at the King's policies.

In 1765, the Rockingham became Prime Minister upon Grenville's dismissal, following negotiations conducted through the Duke of Cumberland. He recovered the honours which he had been deprived of in 1762. His administration was dominated by issues around the American colonies, whilst in India, the Bengal Army faced the Batta Mutiny over officers' pay. He succeeded in repealing the Stamp Act but also passed the Declaratory Act. He resigned following internal dissent in his cabinet.

During his time in Opposition he supported constitutional rights for the American colonists and during his second term in office he pushed for an acknowledgement of the independence of the United States, initiating an end to British involvement in the American War of Independence. His second term was cut short by his death from influenza in 1782.