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Junto Tory ministry

The Junto Tory Ministry was an English ministry established in Spring 1699, leading the Government of England as a loose Whig-Tory coalition until mid-1702 upon the death of King William III. It is named as such due to being a large coalition between the Whig Junto and Tories, rather than being led by a singular figurehead or Chief Minister.

Junto Tory ministry
1699-1702
The Whig Junto (top), Earl of Jersey (bottom left), Viscount Lonsdale (bottom middle), and Earl of Pembroke (bottom right).
Date formedSpring 1699; 327 years ago (1699)
Date dissolvedMay 1702; 324 years ago (1702-05)
People and organisations
MonarchWilliam III
Member partyTory
Whigs
Status in legislatureMajority coalition
Opposition cabinetNone
History
Elections
Legislature terms4th Parliament of William III
5th Parliament of William III
6th Parliament of William III
PredecessorFirst Whig Junto
SuccessorGodolphin-Marlborough ministry

History

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Formation

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As the 1698-99 session closed, it was speculated amongst MPs that the King would dissolve the parliament and call another. However, there were fears that a new parliament would be worse than the current, as suggested by Somers and Vernon, especially given recent by-elections. As a result of these fears, William chose to create a composite ministry by combining the remains of the Whig Junto with key Tory figures, as an act of appeasement. [1]

The King appointed the Earl of Jersey to Secretary of State for the Southern Department, the Viscount Lonsdale to Lord Privy Seal, and elevated the Earl of Pembroke to Lord President of the Council. These three were all nominally Tories, but were chosen for their alliegence to the King, rather than party alignment. After much negotiation, Montagu, Somers, and Orford were given places within the new ministry, with Montagu and Somers accepting, and Orford stating that he would rather be "drawn through a horse-pond" than be First Commissioner of the Admiralty. This prompted a reshuffle across the Admiralty, Treasury, and Board of Trade, due to different factions within the ministry hoping to appoint different people to each position.[2]

This reshuffle, in order to create a fresh ministry but bend to the will of the old Junto, led to a loosely coordinated administration that lacked clear unity or leadership.[3]

Additional changes occurred later in 1699, with Montagu resigning from the Treasury and Shrewsbury briefly returning to fill the vacant position of Lord Chamberlain, before resigning himself due to ill health.[3]

Events

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The ministry's tenure was largely occupied with the threat of war with France, as well as the succession crisis that was about to occur, given the death of Prince William in 1700.

In accordance with Tory wishes in the ministry, Robert Harley was elected Speaker of the House of Commons. This went against the King's wishes, showing the limits of royal control over parliamentary proceedings.[citation needed] Whilst Harley wasn't a member of the ministry, he had a strong influence over proceedings as speaker, and worked closely with Tory ministers to exert control.[4]

Both the Whigs and Tories proved strong during this period, with the 1701 elections returning a very balanced House of Commons.[5] This equal mix would prove difficult for the ministry, however, as strong debates occurred over the Security of the Succession, etc. Act 1701 and Parliamentary privilege, reigniting the divisions that led to the initial formation of the parties. [6]

However, the two parties worked together well over the issue of French aggression, approving military plans and funding for the upcoming war. William III attempted to use this cooperation to try and create an "entire union" between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland, in order to reduce concerns over Protestant succession and the security of the Realm. Whilst these plans didn't get carried forward by the ministry, they would be supported by his successor, Queen Anne, culminating in the 1706 Treaty of Union.[7]

Dissolution

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On 7 March 1702, Parliament received word that the King was dying, and by the next day, he had been succeeded by Queen Anne. In line with the Parliament Act 1695, the Parliament continued meeting for 2 more months, to allow for the finalisation of war plans against France and Spain by England and the rest of the Grand Alliance.[8] In May, England declared war, and the ministry was replaced with the Godolphin–Marlborough ministry.

List of Ministers

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OFFICENAMETERM
Lord President of the CouncilThomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke18 May 1699 – 29 January 1702
Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset29 January – 13 July 1702
First Lord of the TreasuryCharles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax1 May 1697 – 15 November 1699
Ford Grey, 1st Earl of Tankerville15 November 1699 – 9 December 1700
Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin9 December 1700 – 30 December 1701
Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle30 December 1701 – 8 May 1702
Chancellor of the ExchequerJohn Smith2 June 1699 – 27 March 1701
Henry Boyle, 1st Baron Carleton1701–1708
Lord ChancellorJohn Somers, 1st Baron Somers1697–1700
In Commission1700
Nathan Wright1700–1705
Northern SecretaryJames Vernon26 December 1694–3 March 1695
Charles Hedges2 December 1697–5 November 1700
James Vernon5 November 1700–29 December 1701
Southern SecretaryEdward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey14 May 1699–27 June 1700
James Vernon27 June 1700–4 January 1702
Sir Charles Montagu, 1st Duke of Manchester4 January 1702–1 May 1702
Archbishop of CanterburyThomas Tenison6 December 1694–14 December 1715
Lord Privy SealJohn Lowther, 1st Viscount Lonsdale1699–1700
Ford Grey, 1st Earl of Tankerville1700–1701
In Commission1701–1702
Lord StewardWilliam Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire1689–1707
Lord Chamberlain Position Vacant 1697–1699
Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury1699–1700
Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey1700–1704
Comptroller of the HouseholdThomas Wharton, 5th Baron Wharton1689–1702
Master-General of the OrdnanceHenry Sydney, 1st Earl of Romney1693–1702
First Lord of the AdmiraltyJohn Egerton, 3rd Earl of Bridgewater1699–1701
Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke1701–1702
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterThomas Grey, 2nd Earl of Stamford4 May 1697–12 May 1702
First Lord of TradeThomas Grey, 2nd Earl of Stamford9 June 1699–19 June 1702
Secretary at WarGeorge Clarke1690–1704
Treasurer of the NavySir Thomas de Littleton1699–1710
Paymaster of the ForcesRichard Jones, 1st Earl of Ranelagh26 December 1685–22 December 1702
Master of the HorsesHenry de Nassau, Lord Overkirk1689–1702

Notes

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  1. ↑ Horowitz 1977, pp. 256
  2. ↑ Horowitz 1977, pp. 257-258
  3. 1 2 Horowitz 1977, pp. 260
  4. ↑ Jones 1978, pp. 317
  5. ↑ Cruickshanks 2002, pp. 221-223
  6. ↑ Jones 1978, pp. 320-323
  7. ↑ Horowitz 1977, pp. 303
  8. ↑ "The 5th Parliament of William III".

References

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  • Horwitz, Henry (1977), Parliament, policy, and politics in the reign of William III, Manchester, [Eng.]: Manchester University Press, ISBN 978-0-7190-0661-6
  • Jones, James Rees (1991). Country and court: England 1658-1714. The New history of England. London Melbourne Auckland: E. Arnold. ISBN 978-0-7131-6104-5.
  • Hayton, David; Cruickshanks, Eveline; Handley, Stuart (2002). The House of Commons, 1690-1715. Cambridge ; New York: Published for the History of Parliament Trust by Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-77221-1.
  • "The 5th Parliament of William III". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 23 April 2026. - Note: 6th Parliament considered the 5th by History of Parliament
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