Whig government 1714–17

Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend was appointed Secretary of State for the Northern Department by George I in September 1714. He was the de facto leader of this Whig ministry as Northern Secretary until 1717, when he was demoted to Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in favour of the first Stanhope–Sunderland ministry after being outmaneuvered by his rival Whigs.

The first Townshend ministry lasted from 1714 to 1715 and the second from 1715 to 1717.