Broad Bottom ministry

The Broad Bottom ministry was a coalition administration of 1744–46 and 1746–54 in the Parliament of Great Britain. It was led by the Pelham brothers, Henry Pelham as Prime Minister and the Duke of Newcastle as Secretary of State. Early in 1746 the king wished a change of Prime Minister, and Pelham lost power, but only briefly (see Short-lived Ministry). Returning to office he put in place a strengthened broad coalition. It persisted until his death in 1754. Beyond the more senior ministers listed below, other significant figures in the ministry from 1746 were Henry Fox as Secretary at War and William Pitt as Paymaster of the Forces.