Lineage
List of British Prime Ministers in Order
Explore all British prime ministers in chronological order, from Sir Robert Walpole in 1721 to the present day.
This timeline shows every premiership, including repeat terms, with party affiliation, key dates, and concise summaries. Switch between a visual timeline and a structured party view to understand how leadership in Britain has evolved over time.
Whig
14 prime ministers · 17 premierships
Spencer Compton
1742–1743The Earl of Wilmington succeeded Walpole, but his short premiership was limited by ill health and stronger figures around him.View profile →
Henry Pelham
1743–1754Pelham presided over a relatively stable period, managing war finance and preserving a broad governing coalition.View profile →
Thomas Pelham Holles, Duke of Newcastle
1754–1756 · 1757–1762Newcastle inherited office in a period of mounting imperial rivalry, but his first ministry struggled as global war loomed.View profile →
William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire
1756–1757Devonshire headed a brief wartime ministry that depended heavily on the energy and popularity of William Pitt the Elder.View profile →
George Grenville
1763–1765Grenville tightened imperial administration after war, including new taxation in America that sharpened colonial anger.View profile →
Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham
1765–1766 · 1782Rockingham repealed the Stamp Act but struggled to build a durable ministry in a fragmented political system.View profile →
William Pitt the Elder
1766–1768William Pitt the Elder entered office with immense prestige, but illness and division weakened his ministry.View profile →
Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton
1768–1770Grafton presided over growing unrest in Britain’s American colonies and persistent instability in parliament.View profile →
William Petty-Fitzmaurice, Earl of Shelburne
1782–1783Shelburne negotiated the peace that recognised American independence, though his government lacked broad support.View profile →
Lord Grenville
1806–1807Grenville led the Ministry of All the Talents, remembered especially for abolishing the British slave trade.View profile →
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
1830–1834Grey’s government passed the Great Reform Act of 1832, a major turning point in British political history.View profile →
William Lamb, Viscount Melbourne
1834 · 1835–1841Melbourne’s first ministry was brief, though he soon returned as a major political influence in the early Victorian age.View profile →
Lord John Russell
1846–1852Russell’s ministry confronted the Irish Famine, European revolution, and the growing pressures of reform politics.View profile →Key facts about British prime ministers
- First prime minister: Sir Robert Walpole (1721–1742)
- Current prime minister: Andy Burnham (2026–present)
- Longest-serving: Sir Robert Walpole (over 20 years)
- Total premierships listed: 82
How the role of prime minister developed
The role of prime minister was not formally defined at first. Sir Robert Walpole is generally considered the first holder of the office, though the position evolved gradually from senior ministers advising the monarch.
Over time, power shifted from the Crown to Parliament, and the prime minister became the central figure in British government. The rise of organised political parties, electoral reform in the nineteenth century, and the expansion of democracy all reshaped the office into its modern form.
This page lists every premiership in order, including multiple terms served by the same individual, to give a complete picture of political leadership in Britain.
Frequently asked questions
Who was the first British prime minister?
Robert Walpole is generally treated as the first British prime minister. He took office in 1721 and set the pattern for the role as it developed in the eighteenth century.
Who is the current British prime minister?
Andy Burnham became prime minister on 20 July 2026, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer after Labour’s leadership transition.
Why do some prime ministers appear more than once?
Several prime ministers returned to office after losing power, resigning, or heading a new ministry later on. This page lists each separate premiership in chronological order.
Which party has produced the most prime ministers?
Historically, Whig, Tory, Conservative, and Liberal traditions have dominated, with Labour emerging in the twentieth century as a major governing party.
Who served the longest as prime minister?
Sir Robert Walpole is usually counted as the longest-serving British prime minister, with a tenure of more than twenty years.
