William Grenville, the son of George Grenville, the politician who
was later to become Prime Minister (1763-65), was born in 1759. After
studying at Eton and Oxford
University, he entered the House of Commons
in 1782 when he was elected to represent Buckinghamshire. Two years
later he was appointed postmaster-general.
In 1790 Grenville he was granted the title Lord Grenville. Now in
the House of Lords, Grenville received further
promotion under William Pitt and served in
his government as Home Secretary (1790-91) and Foreign Secretary (1791-1801).
Grenville was a strong supporter of Catholic
Emancipation and in 1801 he resigned with Pitt when George
III blocked proposed legislation on the subject.
In February, 1806 Lord Grenville was invited by the king to form a
new Whig administration. Grenville, along
with his Foreign Secretary, Charles Fox, were
strong opponents of the slave trade. Grenville and Fox had both spoken
against the trade in nearly all the debates on the subject since the
first time it was discussed in the House of
Commons in 1789.
Grenville was determined to bring an end to British involvement in
the slave trade. Fox and William Wilberforce
led the campaign in the House of Commons,
whereas Grenville, had the more difficult task of persuading the House
of Lords to accept the measure. Grenville made a passionate speech
where he argued that the trade was "contrary to the principles
of justice, humanity and sound policy" and criticised fellow
members for "not having abolished the trade long ago". When
the vote was taken the Abolition of the Slave
Trade bill was passed in the House of Lords
by 41 votes to 20. In the House of Commons
it was carried by 114 to 15.
Grenville now turned his attention to Catholic
Emancipation. However, with the death of Charles
Fox in September, 1806, Grenville government was severely weakened.
When George III rejected Grenville's
attempt to bring an end to Catholic disabilities
in March 1807, he resigned from office.
Several attempts were made to persuade Grenville to return to government
but he preferred to work from the backbenches. He continued to campaign
against slavery and in 1815 argued against the Corn
Laws. Grenville did support the introduction of the Six
Acts and this led to Lord Liverpool
offering his a place in his government. He refused and in 1823 a paralytic
attack brought an end to his political career. Lord Grenville died
on 12th January, 1834.
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