Home > George Montague-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax

The son of Charles Montague, 1st Earl of Halifax (of the second creation), he became Earl of Halifax on his father's death in 1739. Educated at Eton College and at Trinity College, Cambridge, he was married in 1741 to Anne Richards (died 1753), who had inherited a great fortune from Sir Thomas Dunk , whose name Halifax took. After having been an official in the household of Frederick, Prince of Wales, the earl was made Master of the Buckhounds , and in 1748 he became President of the Board of Trade. While filling this position he helped to found Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, which was named after him, and he helped foster trade, especially with North America.

About this time he attempted, unsuccessfully, to became a secretary of state, but was only allowed to enter the cabinet in 1757Events March 14 On-board the HMS Monarch Admiral John Byng is executed by firing squad for neglecting his duty. June 23 Indian Mutiny: Battle of Plassey 3000 British troops under Robert Clive defeat a 50,000 strong Indian army under Siraj-ud-Dawlah at Pla. In March 1761Events January 16 British capture Pondicherry, India from the French. February 8 Earthquake in London breaks chimneys in Limehouse and Poplar March 8 Second earthquake in North London, Hampstead and Highgate In Dutch Guayana a “state” formed by escaped sl Halifax was appointed Lord Lieutenant of IrelandThe Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (also known as the Viceroy or in the Middle Ages as the Lord Deputy was the head of England's (pre-1707) or Britain's (post 1707) administration in Ireland. The office was originally the central focus of English/British admi, and during part of the time which he held this office he was also First Lord of the AdmiraltyThe First Lord of the Admiralty was a British government position in charge of the Admiralty. The post evolved from that of Lord High Admiral and existed in its own right from 1709 until 1964 when it was subsumed into the position of Secretary of State fo. He became Secretary of State for the Northern DepartmentThe Secretary of State for the Northern Department was a position in the Cabinet of the government of United Kingdom up to 1782. Before 1782, the responsibilities of the two Secretaries of State were not divided up in terms of area of authority, but rathe under the Earl of ButeJohn Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute ( May 25, 1713 March 10, 1792), was a Scottish nobleman who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain ( 1762- 1763) under George III. He had previously served as tutor to George, who was then the Prince of Wales. in October 1762Events Neolin begins to preach. January 4 Britain declares war on Spain & Naples July 17 Catherine II becomes empress of Russia upon the murder of Peter III of Russia. Empress Go-Sakuramachi ascends to the throne of Japan British East India Company seizes, switching to the Southern DepartmentThe Secretary of State for the Southern Department was a position in the cabinet of the government of United Kingdom up to 1782. Before 1782, the responsibilities of the two British Secretaries of State were divided not based on the principles of modern m in 1763 and was one of the three ministers to whom George III entrusted the direction of affairs during the premiership of George Grenville. In 1762, in search of evidence of sedition, he authorised a raid on the home of John Entick, declared unlawful in the case of Entick v. Carrington. He signed the general warrant under which John Wilkes was arrested in 1763, for which action he was made to pay damages by the courts of law in 1769, and he was mainly responsible for the exclusion of the name of the king's mother, Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, from the Regency Bill of 1765 .

Together with his colleagues, the Earl left office in July 1765, returning to the cabinet as Lord Privy Seal under his nephew, Lord North, in January 1770. He had just been restored to his former position of secretary of state when he died. Halifax, who was lord-lieutenant of Northamptonshire and a lieutenant-general in the army, was very extravagant. He left no children, and his titles became extinct on his death. Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford speaks slightingly of the earl, and says he and his mistress, Mary Anne Faulkner, had sold every employment in his gift.

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. 1911 Britannica