Home > Henry Seymour Conway

Serving in the House of Commons from 1741 to 1774 and again from 1775 to 1784, Conway became a leading old Whig, opposing the King's action against John Wilkes in 1763 and entering office with Lord Rockingham as Secretary of State for 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 1765Events March 9 Judges in Paris find Jean Calas innocent, (after having been tortured and executed in 1762) of murdering his son, Marc-Antoine, who had committed suicide), mainly because Voltaire wrote a series of articles calling for the case to be re-ope before switching to 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 the next year, serving until his resignation in 1768Events January 9 Philip Astley stages the first modern circus ( London) May 10 John Wilkes is imprisoned for writing an article for the North Briton severely criticizing King George III. This action provokes rioting in London Secretary of State for coloni. In these offices, Conway sought to urge a moderate policy towards the American colonies, being the principal supporter of the repeal of the Stamp ActThe Stamp Act 1765 was the fourth Stamp Act to be passed by the British Parliament and required all legal documents, permits, commercial contracts, newspapers, pamphlets, and playing cards in the American colonies to carry a tax stamp. The Act was enacted in 1766Events January 1 Bonnie Prince Charlie becomes the new Stuart claimant to the throne of Great Britain as King Charles III and figurehead for Jacobitism. March 5 Antonio de Ulloa, the first Spanish governor of Louisiana, arrives in New Orleans. March 18 Am, and opposing the taxation policies of Chancellor of the ExchequerThe Chancellor of the Exchequer is the ancient title held by the British cabinet minister whose responsibilities are akin to the posts of Minister for Finance or Secretary of the Treasury in other jurisdictions. The third oldest major state office in Engl Charles TownshendThis page is on the former Chancellor of the Exchequer. His father was named Charles, as was his grandfather, "Turnip Townshend". Charles Townshend ( August 29, 1725 September 4, 1767), English politician, was the second son of Charles, 3rd Viscount Towns. Following his resignation in January 1768Events January 9 Philip Astley stages the first modern circus ( London) May 10 John Wilkes is imprisoned for writing an article for the North Briton severely criticizing King George III. This action provokes rioting in London Secretary of State for coloni, Conway returned to the military, and in 1772 was made a full general and Governor of Jersey. He remained an important figure in the Commons, opposing the British attempt to suppress the American Revolt, and his motion in March 1782 was partly responsible for the fall of the North government. He was rewarded with a cabinet position and the office of Commander-in-Chief in the new Rockingham ministry, but left the government a year later with the establishment of the Fox-North Coalition. His political career came to an end in 1784 when he lost his seat in parliament due to his opposition to the government of William Pitt.