Biography John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute

1 biography

1.1 life , rise prominence
1.2 premiership
1.3 post-premiership

biography
early life , rise prominence

a close relative of clan campbell (his mother daughter of 1st duke of argyll), bute succeeded earldom of bute (named after isle of bute) upon death of father, james stuart, 2nd earl of bute, in 1723. brought thereafter maternal uncles, 2nd duke of argyll , archibald campbell, 3rd duke of argyll, 1st , earl of ilay, viscount , earl of hay. bute studied @ eton college (1720–1728) , university of leiden, netherlands (1728–1732), graduated degree in civil , public law. on 24 august 1736, married mary wortley montagu (daughter of sir edward , lady mary wortley montagu), bringing large wortley estates family. in 1737, due influence of uncles, elected scottish representative peer, not active in lords , not reelected in 1741. next several years retired estates in scotland manage affairs , indulge interest in botany.

bute (1770)

during jacobite rising of 1745, bute moved westminster, london, , 2 years later met prince frederick, prince of wales there, becoming close associate of prince. upon prince s death in 1751, education of son, prince george, new prince of wales, became priority , in 1755 bute appointed tutor. bute arranged prince , brother prince edward follow course of lectures on natural philosophy itinerant lecturer stephen demainbray. led increased interest in natural philosophy on part of young prince , 1 in series of events led establishment of george iii collection of natural philosophical instruments. furthermore, following death of prince frederick, bute became close widow, augusta of saxe-gotha, dowager princess of wales. rumoured couple having affair, , indeed after john horne tooke (an associate of prince of wales) published scandalous pamphlet alluding liaison between bute , princess. rumours of affair untrue, bute indications happily married, , held sincere religious beliefs against adultery. in 1780 bute elected first president of society of antiquaries of scotland.

premiership

because of influence had on pupil, bute expected rise political power following george s accession throne in 1760, plans premature. first necessary remove both incumbent prime minister (the duke of newcastle) , arguably more powerful secretary of state southern department (william pitt elder). government of day, buoyed recent successes in 7 years war, popular, however, , did @ general election which, customary @ time, took place on accession of new monarch.

supported king, bute manoeuvred himself power first allying himself newcastle against pitt on latter’s desire declare war on spain which, when defeated, precipitated pitt’s resignation , forcing newcastle’s resignation when prime minister found himself in small minority within government on level of funding , direction of war. re-elected scottish representative peer in 1760, bute indeed appointed de facto prime minister, ending long period of whig dominance.

bute’s premiership notable negotiation of treaty of paris (1763) concluded 7 years war. in doing, bute had soften previous stance in relation concessions given france, in agreed important fisheries in newfoundland returned france without britain’s possession of guadeloupe in return.

after peace concluded, bute , king decided britain’s military expenditure should not exceed pre-war levels thought large presence necessary in america deal french , spanish threat. therefore charged colonists increased military levels, catalysing resistance taxes led american revolution.

king george began see through bute, , turned against him after being criticised official speech press recognised bute s own work. bute proposed controversial cider tax produced enormous hostility in cider-producing areas.

the journalist john wilkes published newspaper called north briton, in both bute , dowager princess of wales savagely satirised. bute resigned prime minister shortly afterwards, although remained in house of lords scottish representative peer until 1780. remained friendly dowager princess of wales, attempts reconcile him george iii proved futile.

post-premiership

for remainder of life, bute remained @ estate in hampshire, built himself mansion called high cliff near christchurch. there continued pursuit of botany , became major literary , artistic patron. among beneficiaries samuel johnson, tobias smollett, robert adam, william robertson , john hill. gave considerably scottish universities. botanical work culminated in publication of botanical tables containing families of british plants in 1785. after retirement, bute accused many americans in years leading american revolutionary war having undue corrupting influence on british government. died @ home in south audley street, grosvenor square, westminster, complications of fall suffered while staying @ highcliffe, , buried @ rothesay on isle of bute.

the flowering plant genus stuartia named after him. according historian john naish, 18th-century expression jack boot meaning stupid person originated disparagement of stuart s performance prime minister.