The Duke of Portland

by Wilkinson, David

"David Wilkinson's analysis carefully dismantles many popular misconceptions about political life in this period, and breaks new ground in examining Portland's later career. After a protracted period of soul-searching, the Duke joined forces with his old enemy Pitt in 1794. As Home Secretary he was responsible for public order during serious wartime shortages, and for the repression of radicalism. Portland was in charge of domestic secret service operations and played a key role both in preventing revolution in Britain as well as suppressing rebellion in Ireland. His Irish policies are thoroughly reassessed, not only in the well-known controversies over the Catholic question in 1795 and 1807, but also in the light of dramatic new evidence that reveals how and why illegal methods were used to obtain the Union in 1800. Ranging from politics to ideology, and from patronage to corruption, this biography provides fascinating insights into British history in the age of George III."--BOOK JAC