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Henry Fox, first Baron Holland

The Right Honourable
The Lord Holland
PC
Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland by John Giles Eccardt.jpg
Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland, by John Giles Eccardt, after Jean Baptiste van Loo, circa 1740
Leader of the House of Commons
In office
26 May 1762 – 16 April 1763
Monarch George III
Prime Minister The Earl of Bute
Preceded by George Grenville
Succeeded by George Grenville
In office
14 November 1755 – 13 November 1756
Monarch George II
Prime Minister The Duke of Newcastle
Preceded by Thomas Robinson
Succeeded by William Pitt
Paymaster of the Forces
In office
2 July 1757 – 13 July 1765
Monarch George II
George III
Prime Minister The Duke of Newcastle
The Earl of Bute
George Grenville
Preceded by Viscount Dupplin
Thomas Potter
Succeeded by Charles Townshend
Secretary of State for the Southern Department
In office
14 November 1755 – 13 November 1756
Monarch George II
Prime Minister The Duke of Newcastle
Preceded by Thomas Robinson
Succeeded by William Pitt
Secretary at War
In office
1746–1755
Monarch George II
Prime Minister Henry Pelham
The Duke of Newcastle
Preceded by Thomas Winnington
Succeeded by The Viscount Barrington
Personal details
Born (1705-09-28)28 September 1705
Died 1 July 1774(1774-07-01) (aged 68)
Holland House,
Kensington, Middlesex,
Great Britain
Political party Whig
Spouse(s) Lady Caroline Lennox
Profession Politician

Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland, PC (28 September 1705 – 1 July 1774 in Holland House) was a leading British politician of the 18th century. He identified primarily with the Whig faction. He notably held the posts of Secretary at War, Southern Secretary and Paymaster of the Forces, from which he enriched himself, but while widely tipped as a future Prime Minister, he never held that office. He was the father of Charles James Fox.

He was the second son of Sir Stephen Fox and his second wife the former Christiana Hope, and inherited a large share of his father's wealth. He squandered most of it soon after attaining his majority, and went to Continental Europe to escape from his creditors. There he made the acquaintance of a woman of fortune, who became his patroness and was so generous to him that, after several years’ absence, he was in a position to return home.

In 1735 he entered Parliament as Member for Hindon in Wiltshire. He became a protégé and devoted supporter of Sir Robert Walpole, the long-standing Prime Minister, achieving unequalled and unenviable proficiency in the worst political arts of his master and model. He earned particular notice with a speech in parliament calling on Britain to support its European allies, principally Austria. He generally aligned with the government Whigs rather than the Patriot Whig faction that opposed them. Until 1742 this meant the government of Walpole, but afterward. it was the government (1743-1754) of Henry Pelham to which he lent his support.


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