Henry Addington

This article is about Henry Addington, the Viscount Sidmouth. For other uses, see Henry Addington (disambiguation).

The Right Honourable The Viscount Sidmouth PC
Portrait by William Beechey, c. 1803
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In office 17 March 1801 – 10 May 1804
Monarch	George III
Preceded by	William Pitt the Younger
Succeeded by	William Pitt the Younger
Ministerial offices Home Secretary In office 11 June 1812 – 17 January 1822 Prime Minister The Earl of Liverpool Preceded by Richard Ryder Succeeded by Robert Peel Lord President of the Council In office 8 April 1812 – 11 June 1812 Prime Minister Spencer Perceval The Earl of Liverpool Preceded by The Earl Camden Succeeded by The Earl of Harrowby In office 8 October 1806 – 26 March 1807 Prime Minister The Lord Grenville Preceded by The Earl Fitzwilliam Succeeded by The Earl Camden In office 14 January 1805 – 10 July 1805 Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger Preceded by The Duke of Portland Succeeded by The Earl Camden Lord Privy Seal In office 5 February 1806 – 15 October 1806 Prime Minister The Lord Grenville Preceded by The Earl of Westmorland Succeeded by The Lord Holland Chancellor of the Exchequer In office 14 March 1801 – 10 May 1804 Prime Minister Himself Preceded by William Pitt the Younger Succeeded by William Pitt the Younger Leader of the House of Commons In office 17 March 1801 – 10 May 1804 Prime Minister Himself Preceded by William Pitt the Younger Succeeded by William Pitt the Younger
Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
In office 1 January 1801 – 10 February 1801
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Sir John Mitford
Speaker of the House of Commons of Great Britain
In office 8 June 1789 – 31 January 1800
Preceded by	William Grenville
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Member of Parliament for Devizes
In office 1784–1805
Preceded by	Henry Jones
Succeeded by	Thomas Grimston Estcourt
Personal details
Born	(1757-05-30)30 May 1757 Holborn, Middlesex, England
Died	15 February 1844(1844-02-15) (aged 86) White Lodge, Surrey, England
Resting place	St Mary the Virgin, Mortlake
Political party	Tory (Addingtonian)
Spouses	Ursula Hammond ​ ​ (m. 1781; died 1811)​ Marianne Townsend ​ ​ (m. 1823)​
Children	8 (by Hammond)
Parent	Anthony Addington (father)
Relatives	John Hiley Addington (brother) Henry Unwin Addington (nephew)
Bildung	Cheam School Reading School Winchester College
Alma mater	Brasenose College, Oxford
Cabinet	§ Cabinet
Signature

Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth, PC (30 May 1757 – 15 February 1844) was a British Tory statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1804.

Addington is best known for obtaining the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, an unfavourable peace with Napoleonic France which marked the end of the Second Coalition during the French Revolutionary Wars. When that treaty broke down he resumed the war, but he was without allies and conducted relatively weak defensive hostilities, ahead of what would become the War of the Third Coalition. He was forced from office in favour of William Pitt the Younger, who had preceded Addington as Prime Minister. Addington is also known for his reactionary crackdown on advocates of democratic reforms during a ten-year spell as Home Secretary from 1812 to 1822. He is the longest continuously serving holder of that office since it was created in 1782.

Early life (1757–1784)

Family

Henry Addington was born 30 May 1757 in Holborn, Middlesex as the eldest son and fourth child of the physician Dr. Anthony Addington and his wife Mary Addington, the daughter of the Rev. Haviland John Hiley, headmaster of Reading School. His father was a man of modest means, but came to great prestige as the personal physician of high ranking politicians and officials in the country. Among his notable patients include King George III and the Prime Minister William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. As Pitt’s personal physician, it was he who prescribed a bottle of port wine daily to cure Pitt's gout. As a consequence of his father's position and connection with one of the leading politicians in country, the young Addington became acquainted with Pitt’s son, William and so was the childhood friend of William Pitt the Younger.

Bildung

Young Addington began his formal studies at Reading School, where his maternal grandfather was the headmaster and later at the age of five he also attended the Cheam School, where he remained for six years. From there, he entered Winchester College as a commoner in 1771, where he took residence and position as a private pupil of Goodenough. At Winchester, he formed a long-term friendship with George Huntingford, who would later become the warden of the college and the Bishop of Gloucester, a proof of the high character which he bore at the college. At the age of sixteen, Addington gained entry to Brasenose College, Oxford, where his life appeared to have been studious and where he committed to learning.

While at Brasenose he took on the degree of B.A. and at Oxford he acquired a taste for writing English verses and an interest in literature, in which he occasionally indulged in later life, though without much success. In 1779, he won the chancellor’s prize medal for the best English essay and was immediately admitted to the University’s prestigious Vinerian scholarships in 1780. Upon leaving the university, he turned to the study of law and to become a person of that profession. Addington’ law studies led to further studying law at Lincoln's Inn where he would be later admitted to. He married Ursula Mary Hammond in 1781; she brought an income of £1,000 a year into the marriage. The couple had eight children, of whom six survived to adulthood. Ursula Addington died in 1811; in 1823 Addington married a widow, Marianne Townsend, daughter of William Scott, 1st Baron Stowell.

Early political career (1784–1789)

Member of Parliament

In 1783, Addington who was attending law school at the time, left the profession to engage in politics. His childhood friendship with the son of his father's former patient, the young William Pitt, who had been elected to Parliament three years previously, now convinced him to leave studying law to pursue a political career. This relationship enabled Addington to gain notable support and obtain a seat in Parliament. After an year campaigning for a parliamentary seat in Devonshire, he was elected to the House of Commons in 1784 as one of the Members of Parliament for Devizes.

The following year, after an brief tumultuous constitutional crisis which saw the downfall of the Whig Fox-North government, the King appointed young William Pitt as the new Prime Minister. The new ministry and Pitt himself had very little personal support within the House.Addington soon became one of the new government's warmest and most sympathetic supporters and remained supportive of it even after it suffered an vote of no confidence. However, during the 1784 general election, the Tory Party under Pitt won a landslide victory against Whig opposition and gained a large majority of 280 seats in the Commons.

Pitt became aware of the importance of his friendship with Addington and endeavoured to excite the ambitions of his friend. In 1786, Addington was invited to second the address in Commons, but declined as he hardly spoke during sessions in parliament. He devoted much of his time to committees on parliamentary affairs and to learning the practices and procedures of Parliament and the Commons. Addington's character and temperament, garnered him universal esteem and his friendship with the Prime Minister Pitt further enhanced his importance and goodwill.

Speaker of the House of Commons (1789–1801)

Election

His relationship with Pitt and his character in Parliament became a useful tool in his rapid political ascension. The importance of this came through the influence of Pitt as prime minister and the high regards he was held by, when Addington was procured to be moved to became Speaker of the House of Commons in 1789 without much opposition and run unopposed during his election. He was an suitable candidate for the position and immediately fitted into the role of Speaker during the following, during which he served in three parliamentary sessions for 11 years.

In the new parliamentary session and soon after his election as Speaker, the annual salary of the speaker, which up to that point had been from fluctuating sources, was around at about £6,000l per year. A proposal was to be made Addington, four years into his tenure, in 1793 that he should enter the government as a secretary of state, but he preferred to keep the speakership. During his time as the Commons Speaker, Addington proffered to spend his spend his vacations in domestic solitude and enjoyment at Woodley, an estate he bought in the neighbourhood of Reading.

Trial of Warren Hastings

In 1795, much of Addington time was spend on the Impeachment of Warren Hastings, the former Governor-General of India, over allegations of misconduct, destructive policies and political instability. These allegations made by both officials and rivals of Hastings to a great extent, which was further exacerbated by his handling of the colonial government’s India and conflicts with Mysore . During the Third Anglo-Mysore War from 1789 to 1792, which saw British control over Madras nearly end with Hyder Ali marching his forces into British-held territory and personal accumulation of wealth by Hastings during tenure.

These accusations forced Hastings to resign and return to England with immediate effect to face the subsequent impeachment trial. The trial was a public sensation, as it garnered public attention to trial of that kind, with both opposition and support in favour of the impeachment. Hastings, whose accusers included Whig politicians Charles James Fox, Edmund Burke and colonial official Philip Francis, became the leading voice of justice to face Hastings. While the Tories, seeking to undermine the trial against the Whig opposition, supporter for the acquittal of Hastings. This sparked heavy debate and tense controversy on whether Hastings was guilty of the charges or not.

The trial dragged for nearly seven years without an future end, but the trial was chaired by the Tory dominated House of Lords and the House of Commons finally delivered an verdict under Lord High Chancellor Lord Loughborough. The trial ended when Hastings was declared acquitted of his charges and not guilty by a majority vote, which was a small significant triumph over the Whigs, causing frustration to both Fix and Burke over the verdict. In connection with the trial and eventual verdict, Addington as the Speaker concurred in new constitutional maxim in 1790, that an impeachment is not abated by a dissolution.

French Revolution

During the beginning of the 1780s, saw Europe experiencing three long decade-long period of war and political turmoil with the occurring of the French Revolution in 14 July 1789 The deep political instability and social unrest, the hierarchical structure and economic downturn turned into a large-scale revolutionary reaction, to what was perceived as a violation of the rights of man and liberty. As France was a absolute monarchy, it became a largely criticised and hated institution, viewed as against the virtues of a democratic state. With the beginning of the revolution in 1789, led to five years of political collapse which ultimately saw King Louis XVI being executed and the ancient French monarchy being abolished by 1793, after which France was soon established as a republic.

The aftermath of the chaos unveiling in France, saw the radical ideas of the revolution being feared by all European governments; especially the monarchies of Europe, as threatening. As the impact of the revolution began to be widespread, European countries declared war against the new republic with Britain playing a key role, leading to the War of the First Coalition in 1792. The spread of revolutionary fervour to Britain in the early 1790s, led to fears over a similar incidents occurring within the British Isles and the government under William Pitt introduced harsh measures to contain such ideals from gaining influence and affecting the minds of the British populace.Such measures were opposed by the Whig opposition, like Charles James Fox, who viewed them as an assault on the rights of expression freedom of speech.

However military offensives against the French state proved unsuccessful as the first coalition, the subsequent second coalition along with the third coalition were defeated outright by France on its own. Despite these setbacks, the British government continued its effort to fight the French and its allies. Addington, as one of the strongest supporters of the Pitt government’s policies, promoted patriotic efforts to defend British values, protect the interests of the European balance of power and saw the French Revolution as undoing the fundamental foundations of traditional European government.

Excited by war sentiment, he took an active part in measures in Parliament to continue the war in Europe and helping to form small militias. As Speaker and advisor, he suggested that the government increase voluntary conscription, raise revenue for the war and even granted a sum of £2,000 as funds. Addington mustered a sufficient cavalry force under his command during the war near his home in Woodley.

Catholic emancipation

The issue of equal rights and treatment of Catholics in both Great Britain and especially in Ireland, became a heated argument among politicians of the time. While more liberal MPs supported the idea, in granting the same rights as to practice one’s religion or entrance into civil and public service, a majority of mostly conservative members opposed it. The issue of ill-treatment of Irish Catholics led to an rebellion against the British government in 1797 and resulted in Ireland becoming a member of the United Kingdom by the Act of Union 1800. Addington, who as a moderate member of the Tory Party, agreed with Pitt as to the necessity of the union with Ireland, but did not approve of policies as to give concessions by which the government hoped to make the union a measure to heal broken relations.

During a tense debate in Parliament on 12 February 1799, he made a considerable speech of in support of the project, but said that ‘if he had to choose between the re-enactment of the popery laws and catholic emancipation, coupled with parliamentary reform, as the means of restoring tranquillity to Ireland, he should give the preference to the former.’ In January 1801, King George III, who was a devout Anglican Protestant, openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the plan of catholic relief and wrote to Addington, to whom he had shown much favour, saying that he wished that Addington ‘would from himself open Pitt's eyes on the danger’ of agitating the Catholic question. Addington tried to convince Pitt to abandon the idea of Catholic emancipation in favour of refocusing British military efforts abroad. In the end, Addington did what he could and Pitt refused to consider abandoning the project.

In March 1801, William Pitt the Younger resigned from office, ostensibly over the refusal of King George III to remove some of the existing political restrictions on Roman Catholics in Ireland (Catholic Emancipation), but poor health, failure in war, economic collapse, alarming levels of social unrest due to famine, and irreconcilable divisions within the Cabinet also played a role. Both Pitt and the King insisted that Addington take over as Prime Minister, despite his own objections, and his failed attempts to reconcile the King and Pitt.

Prime Minister (1801–1804)

Appointment and cabinet

Further information: Addington ministry

When Pitt suddenly tendered his resignation in March, immediate candidates to succeed him as prime minister, were not many. Pitt’s ultimate and chosen successor had been Addington himself, who had been consulted before on the matter in 1797, but it is now more urgent that he succeed Pitt in his role. Pitt was confident in Addington and suggested to the King that he should appoint him. The King then sent for Addington and asked him to take responsibility of forming a new government. ‘Where,’ he asked, ‘am I to turn for support if you do not stand by me?’ Addington thought of himself to be unready for the role and at once consulted Pitt. Pitt reassured that he has both his and his allies’ support and entreated him to accept the charge, declaring that he ‘saw nothing but ruin’ if he refused.

With this new found confidence, Addington accordingly set to forming a new ministry. However members of the former cabinet, who agreed with Pitt on catholic emancipation and several prominent MPs, opposed his ascension. Among them were Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis, Lord Castlereagh and George Canning, refused to serve under Addington, forcing him to call on the rear ranks of the old cabinet to form the front-benches of his new ministry. The actual change in government transition and Addington’s appointment was delayed when the King fell ill. Addington had resigned as speaker and Pitt remained as de facto prime minister in caretaker capacity.

Pitt's allies took advantage of the situation by believing that Addington looked upon himself as a mere locum tenens as to Pitt, whose position regarding the catholic question was changed by the assurance which he gave to the King that he would not press on matter ever again during His Majesty's lifetime. Pitt did not conceal his belief to once again return to office as prime minister if the opportunity is presented to him if the new government collapsed. Without Pitt’s authority, his supporters have have urged Addington to refuse office in his favour. Addington naturally refused requests that implied his inferiority and subordination by attempting to take a more strong approach towards leadership. On 14 March, The King recovered from his brief illness as to conduct transact process and Addington return to 10 Downing Street as the new Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury.

Foreign policy

War in Europe

See also: United Kingdom in the Napoleonic Wars

Foreign policy was the centrepiece of his term in office. Some historians have been highly critical and said that it was ignorant and indifferent to Britain's greatest needs. However, Thomas Goldsmith argues that Addington and his Foreign Secretary Lord Hawkesbury conducted a logical, consistent and eurocentric balance-of-power policy, rooted in rules and assumptions governing their conduct, rather than a chaotic free-for-all approach. It is also important that during the first year of his premiership, Addington knew that the cost of the war in Europe would be fatal for Britain financially and militarily as a string of defeats suffered by the allies against the First French Republic during both the first and second coalitions, both ending in failure.

The War of the Second Coalition which began in 1798 had seen Britain alongside Austria, Prussia, Russia and the Ottoman Empire fighting France to dismantle its new government and restore the monarchy to cease the widespread influence and unrest brought with the French Revolution back in 1782. However, the allies suffered immense casualties and heavy defeats, as France triumphed in the face of overwhelming odds.The French armies, particularly under the Corsican-born French general Napoleon Bonaparte won stunning victories against both the Austrians and the Russians in Italy and the Rhineland with further campaigns under Napoleon’s command in the Middle East.This lasted until 1801, when one of the Coalition’s major members, Austria, made peace with France after two major defeats at Marengo and Hohenlinden at the Treaty of Lunéville. This was followed by separate treaties signed by other major allies with France following Lunéville.

This left Britain, the sole remaining member of the Coalition in Europe; urged by both public opinion, Whig opposition and financial crisis, the Addington government prioritised peace as the main foreign policy initiative of the new government. Negotiations began with Foreign Secretary, Lord Hawkesbury who contacted the French government on possible options for peace. While the terms of peace were the bare minimum that the British government could accept, Napoleon Bonaparte would not agree to any terms that are more favourable to the British, and the British government was forced to reach a state of financial collapse from war expenditure, the loss of Continental markets for British goods and two successive failed harvests that had led to widespread famine and social unrest, rendering peace a necessity.The government, now under Bonapartist control agreed to the proposal with Napoleon’s brother, Joseph Bonaparte acting as one of the key diplomats in the peace negotiations. However this was delayed till next year, during which the negotiations would come to a conclusion.

Treaty of Amiens

Further information: Treaty of Amiens

Peace negotiations were largely entrusted to the cabinet’s youngest member, Addington's Foreign Secretary Lord Hawkesbury, who immediately reopened communications with the French emissary for prisoners of war Louis Guillaume Otto. The French commissary, who was in London, sent new peace proposals to Napoleon, who was now the First Consul of France, to whom he had made his earlier proposals. Hawkesbury stated that the British government wanted to re-open discussions on terms for a possible peace settlement eventually and Otto, under detailed instructions First Consul Bonaparte, engaged in negotiations with Hawkesbury in mid-1801. Hawkesbury and the rest of the Addington government was dissatisfied with the process of discussions with Otto and the government in turn sent diplomat Anthony Merry to Paris to open a second line of communications with the French foreign minister, Talleyrand. By mid-September, negotiations progressed to the point that Hawkesbury and Otto officially met to draft the preliminary agreement.

On 30 September, they signed the preliminary agreement in London, which was published the next day.The terms of the agreement required Britain to restore French colonial possessions which the British had captured during the previous war in 1794, the evacuation of Malta and withdrawal from the rest of occupied Mediterranean ports. Malta eventually restored to the Order of St. John after British forces left and it’s sovereignty was to be guaranteed by one or more powers, which would be determined at the final discussions. Under the terms of the treaty, the French were to restore Egypt to Ottoman control, withdraw from most of the Italian peninsula and agree to recognise Portuguese sovereignty.Britain was, in turn, recognise the newly established Seven Islands Republic in the Ionian Sea and that both sides be allowed access to trade outposts on the Cape of Good Hope.

The declaration of the signing of the Treaty was met with joy and relief across Europe with celebrations of peace by publishing of pamphlets, poems, and odes in French, English, German and other languages. In theatres, actors depicted signing of the treaty at dinners, vaudeville, and during on stage. In Britain, although it did not gain all that was expected, the treaty was highly popular and celebrations ranged from illuminations and fireworks to one of political triumph. The Whig opposition, which long campaigned for peace, finally rejoiced and approved the government proposals by 276 to 20 in the House of Commons.

Neutral League and Denmark

During the war against Revolutionary France, the Baltic nations of Russia, Prussia and Denmark-Norway formed an non-combatant alliance to protect neutral shipping and trade interests of countries against British Royal Navy. This was the Second League of Armed Neutrality and was in response to the Royal Navy seizing merchant ships in search of French contraband and stopping sending supplies to mainland France during the war. Countries saw this as an violation of trading rights and against the sovereignty of the respective nations whose trade was commercially damaged due to this. In order to avoid further conflict, a neutral league of non-combatant countries were first formed during the American Revolution and later was revived by Tzar Paul I of Russia.

Newly revived alliance still had the same goal to stop British interference in with their shipping and resist if ships were boarded to search for contraband, military supplies or cargo. However unlike the First League of Armed Neutrality was less successful. The Second League was intended to protect each countries’ neutral shipping rights against possible Royal Navy's wartime naval policy of unlimited seizing of neutral shipping for French contraband, in an attempt to cut off trading vital supplies to the First French Republic. However, the British government considered it a form of an alliance with France and was anxious that Denmark will ally itself the country. The British government, cautious to preserve good relations to keep Russian goodwill and after diplomatic discussions broke down between Britain and Denmark, that the Addington’s war cabinet openly considered attacking Denmark and destroying parts of its fleet.

On 2 April 1801, a large fleet of Royal Navy ships under Admiral Horatio Nelson blockaded the Danish capital of Copenhagen. However, in order to break the blockade, Dutch commanders tried to attack the British fleet which ended in the Battle of Copenhagen and forcing Denmark to withdraw from the League. Britain captured Danish territories in the West Indies between March 1801 and April 1802. The attack on Denmark, led to Prussia retaliating against the British by invading Hanover in April 1801 as a way to provoking the British into a war. However that year, Tzar Paul was assassinated in March and his son Alexander I ascended to the throne as the Tsar of Russia. Alexander, who favoured cordial relations with Britain, led to the policy being changed in Russia and the dissolution of alliance as a result. Russia would be a major potential ally later in the Wars against Napoleonic France.

Colonial agenda

During Addington’s premiership, colonial matters were of small importance to the government and its focus largely laid on foreign affairs abroad and domestic reforms at home. British expansion during this period was largely halted due to constant disruption of war in mainland Europe and was overshadowed by it ever since the end of the Second Coalition in 1801. However, Britain did expand some of its borders in the Indian subcontinent during a dispute with Maratha Confederacy.

Internal strife was brewing in country for a time and saw rapid decline during the past decades under the rise of British rule. As quarrels among powerful chiefs grew as each one vied for power and influence in court. In 1801, the Peshwa, the head of government at the capital city of Poona and the chiefs of Baroda, Gwalior, Indore, and Nagpur engaged in a internal struggle and Lord Mornington, the Governor-General of India had offered a subsidiary treaty to the both Peshwa and chief Scindia of Gwalior, but Nana Fadnavis strongly refused. In October 1802, a rebellion spurred under Yashwantrao Holkar, the ruler of Indore]] and leading Peshwa Baji Rao II and Scindia to gather their forces. Their combined armies were defeated by Holkar at the Battle of Poona and Baji Rao fled to British protection.

In December of the same year, the Treaty of Bassein was concluded with the British East India Company, ceding Maratha territory for maintaining a subsidiary force and agreeing to treaty with no other power. After the treat was concluded, the British force of around 53,000 men were sent under the command of Lieutenant General Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington and General Gerard Lake. British forces crossed into Maratha territory from the Deccan Plateau and Bundelkhand and quickly won decisive victories such as at Assaye, Delhi and Laswari. The war was ended when the chiefs were finally defeated one by one and was concluded with signing of multiple treaties with each chieftain ceding their respective territories. In the end, Britain gained territories from Hisar to Bundi and severely weakened the Marathas.

Domestic policy

Economy

During Addington’s tenure, the cost of the war which lasted a decade, saw the country’s national debt doubling that of the total GDP of the nation.The debt was over £28 million which was a large sum that could hardly be paid off in time and would need sufficient taxation and revenue for it be fully paid. Addington, knew that it would be his responsibility to manage the countries finances which was heavily in deficit after the end of the war in 1802.Before Addington became Prime Minister, Britain was forced off the gold standard and endure a sustained inflation, as for wars which lasted for comparable length during its duration, but through monopoly over trade and colonial expansion made by Britain led to financing the war without falling into large scale bankruptcy.

This was apparently achieved with the government smoothing taxation, credibility in managing macroeconomics and because of longstanding records of maintaining special convertibility through which the country has access to the inflation tax. Addington government pushed efforts to double down on taxation and revenue raising, by issuing new legislation by an increasing income taxes and furthering land tax in order raise annuities.One of the many notable policies on the economy under the Addington’s ministry was the introduction of excises and duties on agricultural commodities, food and mechanics. This saw more than five taxation acts passed in Parliament over the first two years from 1801 to 1803 and this included duties on food such as sugar, raisins, spirits, pepper, timber tea and wheat.Household taxes included duties on owning horses with the Duty on Horses Act 1801 and additional duties on postage, paper and scale-boards.

Although taxation were hard and was opposed by many of the public, the government was able to pay off the debt of £28 million, in time before war could be resumed, which saw rapid economic growth and development between 1802-1804.This largely succeeded turning the British economy around and by 1803 the government was repeal some of the legislation that was passed to ease taxation. Addington's other economic reforms were to decrease the efficiency of the income tax.

Social reforms

Addington was heavily preoccupied with foreign affairs at first and did not had any clues on domestic affairs. However, after the signing of the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, Addington lend his attention to internal matters.In domestic politics the Addington government was largely focused on the economy and national defence, these did not include major policies, but it did passed legislation to improve and develop social reforms. These included some important and significant measures up to that time, which were considered monumental during that period.

In 1802, the government passed the Health and Morals of Apprentices Act 1802, which was propane promoted in Parliament by Sir Robert Peel, 1st Baronet who become concerned about the state of livings standards among workers and the poor after in 1784 a "malignant fever" outbreak at one of his cotton mills, which he blamed on 'gross mismanagement' by his subordinates. The act was designed to improve conditions for apprentices working in cotton mills and factories. The act required cotton mills and factories be properly ventilated and cleansed with basic requirements on cleanliness and apprentices in these areas to be given education and attend religious services at least once a month. It also required apprentices and workers to be provided with clothing and working hours be limited to no more than 12 twelve hours and not allowed to work at night.

In 1803, the government also passed the Passenger Vessels Act, which was one of the first of many laws which regulated transportation of immigrants and provide protection emigrants on boarding ships from exploitation by transport companies. The act aimed to improve conditions on much needed hygiene, food necessities and necessary comfort for passengers travelling to North America. Under this act, which was established out of humanitarian pretences, but the more practical cause was the need to raise the cost of passage to prevent many from leaving the country. Landlords feared the emigration of tenants, which would leave them without rent, heavily lobbied for legislation whereas the cost of travel to Canada for £3-4 being raised to £10.

Military policy

By early 1803, Britain's financial and diplomatic positions had recovered sufficiently to allow Addington to declare war on France, when it became clear that the French would not allow a settlement for the defences of Malta that would have been secure enough to fend off a French invasion that appeared imminent.

At the time and ever since, Addington has been criticised for his lacklustre conduct of the war and his defensive posture. However, without allies, Britain's options were limited to defence. He increased the forces, provided a tax base that could finance an enlarged war and seized several French possessions. To gain allies, Addington cultivated better relations with Russia, Austria, and Prussia, which later culminated in the Third Coalition shortly after he left office. Addington also strengthened British defences against a French invasion through the building of Martello towers on the south coast and the raising of more than 600,000 men at arms.

In 1802 a factory Act was passed that reduced the work of women and children in factories and mills to 12 hours, illegalised night-work, required a certain amount of education for apprentices “and gave power to magistrates to appoint visitors to children apprenticed by poor-law guardians."

Foundling Hospital

In 1802, Addington accepted an honorary position as vice-president for life on the Court of Governors of London's Foundling Hospital for abandoned babies.

Loss of office

In Britannia between Death and the Doctor's (1804), James Gillray caricatured Pitt as a doctor kicking Addington (the previous doctor) out of Britannia's sickroom.

Although the King stood by him, it was not enough, because Addington did not have a strong enough hold on both Houses of Parliament. By May 1804, partisan criticism of Addington's war policies provided the pretext for a parliamentary putsch by the three major factions (Grenvillites, Foxites, and Pittites), who had decided that they should replace Addington's ministry. Addington's greatest failing was his inability to manage a parliamentary majority by cultivating the loyal support of MPs beyond his own circle and the friends of the King. That, combined with his mediocre speaking ability, left him vulnerable to Pitt's mastery of parliamentary management and his unparallelled oratory skills. Pitt's parliamentary assault against Addington in March 1804 led to the slimming of his parliamentary majority to the point that defeat in the House of Commons was imminent.

Post-premiership

Lord President and Lord Privy Seal

Addington remained an important political figure because he had gained a large following of MPs who supported him loyally in the Commons. He was reconciled with Pitt in December 1804, with the help of Lord Hawkesbury as an intermediary. As a result, Pitt arranged for him to join the Cabinet as Lord President of the Council in January 1805 but insisted for Addington to accept a peerage to avoid the inconvenience of them sitting together in the Commons and Addington was created Viscount Sidmouth, of Sidmouth in the County of Devon on 12 January 1805.

In return for the support of the government by Addington's loyal supporters, Pitt agreed to include Addington's colleague the Earl of Buckinghamshire as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with a promise to elevate him to the first vacancy of a more senior position in the Cabinet. However, when Melville resigned as First Lord of the Admiralty in July 1805, Pitt broke his promise by having Sir Charles Middleton appointed instead of Buckinghamshire. As a result of the betrayal, Addington and Buckinghamshire resigned and took all of their supporters into opposition. Addington was appointed Lord Privy Seal in 1806 in the Ministry of All the Talents that succeeded Pitt. Later that year he returned to the position of Lord President to 1807. His resignation, in opposition to a limited measure of Catholic Emancipation, which the Cabinet was considering despite the opposition of King George III, precipitated the fall of the Talents Ministry.

Home Secretary

He returned to government again as Lord President in March 1812, and, in June of the same year, became Home Secretary. As Home Secretary, Addington countered revolutionary opposition, being responsible for the temporary suspension of habeas corpus in 1817 and the passage of the Six Acts in 1819. His tenure also saw the Peterloo Massacre of 1819. He left office in 1822, succeeded as Home Secretary by Sir Robert Peel, but Addington remained in the Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio for the next two years, opposing, along with the Duke of Wellington, other members of Cabinet, and King George IV, British recognition of the South American republics. He remained active in the House of Lords for the next few years, making his final speech in opposition to Catholic Emancipation in 1829 and casting his final vote against the Reform Act 1832.

Residences and land

Memorial in Mortlake

Addington maintained homes at Upottery, Devon and Bulmershe Court, in what is now the Reading suburb of Woodley, but moved to the White Lodge in Richmond Park when he became Prime Minister. However, he maintained links with Woodley and the Reading area as commander of the Woodley Yeomanry Cavalry and High Steward of Reading. He also donated to the town of Reading the four acres (1.6 ha) of land that is today the site of the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and his name is commemorated in the town's Sidmouth Street and Addington Road as well as in Sidmouth Street in Devizes and Addington Special School in Woodley, Reading. In Devizes he paid for the new Market Cross, designed by James Wyatt, that was constructed in 1814.

As Speaker of the House of Commons, from 1795 he had a residence in the Palace of Westminster, to the north-east of the House of Commons.

Death

Addington died in London on 15 February 1844 at the age of 86, from influenza, and was buried in the churchyard at St Mary the Virgin, Mortlake on Mortlake High Street, now in Greater London.

Arms

Coat of arms of Henry Addington, Viscount Sidmouth

Crest A Cat-a-mountain sejant guardant Proper bezanty the dexter forepaw resting on an inescutcheon Azure charged with a Mace erect surmounted with a Regal Crown Or within a Bordure engrailed Argent Escutcheon Per pale Ermine and Erminés a Chevron charged with five Lozenges counterchanged between three Fleurs-de-lis Or Supporters On either side a Stag the dexter Erminés the sinister Ermine both attired and gorged with a Chain pendant therefrom a Key all Or Motto Libertas sub rege pio (Liberty under a pious King)

Cabinet

Portfolio	Minister	Took office	Left office	Party
First Lord of the Treasury Chancellor of the Exchequer	Henry Addington (head of ministry)	17 March 1801 (1801-03-17)	10 May 1804 (1804-05-10)		Tory
Lord Chancellor	Alexander Wedderburn, Lord Loughborough	Continued	14 April 1801 (1801-04-14)		Independent
	John Scott, Lord Eldon	14 April 1801 (1801-04-14)	Continued		Tory
Lord President of the Council	John Pitt, Earl of Chatham	Continued	30 July 1801 (1801-07-30)		Independent
	William Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of Portland	30 July 1801 (1801-07-30)	Continued		Tory
Lord Privy Seal	John Fane, Earl of Westmorland	Continued	Continued		Tory
Secretary of State for the Home Department	William Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of Portland	Continued	30 July 1801 (1801-07-30)		Tory
	Thomas Pelham, Lord Pelham of Stanmer	30 July 1801 (1801-07-30)	17 August 1803 (1803-08-17)		Tory
	Charles Philip Yorke	17 August 1803 (1803-08-17)	12 May 1804 (1804-05-12)		Tory
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs	Robert Jenkinson, Lord Hawkesbury	Continued	14 May 1804 (1804-05-14)		Tory
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies	Robert Hobart, Lord Hobart	17 March 1801 (1801-03-17)	12 May 1804 (1804-05-12)		Tory
First Lord of the Admiralty	John Jervis, Earl of St Vincent	Continued	1804 (1804)		Whig
Master-General of the Ordnance	John Pitt, Earl of Chatham	June 1801 (1801-06)	Continued		Independent
President of the Board of Trade	Charles Jenkinson, Earl of Liverpool	Continued	7 June 1804 (1804-06-07)		Independent
President of the Board of Control	George Legge, Earl of Dartmouth	May 1801 (1801-05)	July 1802 (1802-07)		Tory
	Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh	July 1802 (1802-07)	Continued		Tory

References

• "Addington, Henry". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/150. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
• Cooke, Sir Robert (1987). The Palace of Westminster. London: Burton Skira. ISBN 978-0-333-45923-2.
• Cookson, J. E. (1997). The British Armed Nation, 1793–1815. Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-820658-5.
• Ehrman, John (1996). The Younger Pitt: The Consuming Struggle. Vol. 3. Constable. ISBN 978-0-8047-2754-9.
• Fedorak, Charles John (2002). Henry Addington, Prime Minister, 1801–1804: Peace, War and Parliamentary Politics. Akron, Ohio: University of Akron Press. p. 268. ISBN 978-1-884836-83-1.
• Fedorak, C. J. (1991). "In search of a necessary ally: Addington, Hawkesbury, and Russia, 1801–1804". International History Review. 13 (2): 221–45. doi:10.1080/07075332.1991.9640579. JSTOR 40106365.
• Feldbæk, Ole (1978). "The Anglo‐Russian Rapprochement of 1801: A prelude to the peace of Amiens". Scandinavian Journal of History. 3 (1–4): 205–227. doi:10.1080/03468757808578936.
• Goldsmith, Thomas (2016). "British Diplomatic Attitudes towards Europe, 1801–4: Ignorant and Indifferent?". International History Review. 38 (4): 657–674. doi:10.1080/07075332.2015.1096807. S2CID 155945406.
• Hall, C. D. (October 1988). "Addington at War: Unspectacular but not Unsuccessful". Historical Research. 61 (146): 306–315. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2281.1988.tb01069.x.
• Hunt, William (1885). "Addington, Henry (1757–1844)" . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 01. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
• Kagan, Frederick (2007). The End of the Old Order: Napoleon and Europe, 1801–1805. Hachette Books. ISBN 978-0-306-81645-1.
• McCahill, Michael W. (May 1987). "The House of Lords and the Collapse of Henry Addington's Administration". Parliamentary History. 6 (1): 69–94. doi:10.1111/j.1750-0206.1987.tb00412.x.
• Ziegler, Philip (1965). Addington, A Life of Henry Addington, First Viscount Sidmouth. New York: The John Day Company. p. 478.

External links

• Media related to Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth at Wikimedia Commons
• Works by or about Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth at Wikisource
• "Archival material relating to Henry Addington". UK National Archives.
• Henry Addington, Viscount Sidmouth (1757–1844) at David Nash Ford's Royal Berkshire History Website
• Woodley House (Sonning) at David Nash Ford's Royal Berkshire History Website
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Mr Henry Addington