什么是华尔波尔

Walpole, Robert

受封为欧佛伯爵（Earl of Orford）

英国政治家。常被视为英国首任首相。1701年当选议员，成为辉格党少壮派领袖之一。1708～1710年任陆军大臣，1710～1711年任海军财务总监。他也是基特－卡特俱乐部的成员。执政的托利党为了除掉他，1712年他以贪污的罪名遭弹劾，被革出下院并关入伦敦塔。1714年乔治一世即位，他出任军需总监，任财政委员会首席委员兼财政大臣（1715～1717，1721～1742）。虽然与南海骗局丑闻有关，他仍重返政府，任军需总监。自1727年培养乔治二世对他的支持。他利用这种支持达到各种政治目的。他在宫廷和财务部门培植起的派系，成为辉格党的力量核心。外交事务经常困扰他。他运用对国王的一切影响，使英国保持中立。直到1739年被迫对西班牙宣战（詹金斯的耳朵战争）。1742年华尔波尔被迫辞职。并封伯爵。他所收藏的艺术品於1779年卖给俄国，成为爱尔米塔什博物馆的收藏品。

1676～1745年

Walpole, Robert

English statesman generally regarded as the first British prime minister. Elected to the House of Commons in 1701, he became an active Whig parliamentarian. He served as secretary at war 1708-10, and as treasurer of the navy 1710-11. He was also a member of the Kit-Cat Club. The Tory government sought to remove his influence by impeaching him for corruption, and he was expelled from the Commons in 1712. With the accession of George I (1714), he regained his position and rose rapidly to become first lord of the treasury and chancellor of the exchequer (1715-17, 1721-42). Though associated with the South Sea Bubble scandal, he restored confidence in the government and maintained the Whigs in office. He cultivated the support of George II from 1727 and used royal patronage for political ends, skillfully managing the House of Commons to win support for his trade and fiscal programs, including the sinking fund. With his consolidation of power, he effectively became the first British prime minister. He avoided foreign entanglements and kept England neutral until 1739, but was forced into the War of Jenkins' Ear. He resigned under pressure in 1742 and was created an earl. His acclaimed art collection, sold to Russia in 1779, became part of the Hermitage Museum collection.