Robert Walpole and Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend were removed from their positions in the government (the latter having already previously been demoted to Lord Lieutenant of Ireland), and were replaced by James Stanhope, 1st Viscount Stanhope of Mahon and Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland, who cooperatively led the first Stanhope–Sunderland ministry. The two Whigs remained in power from 1717 to 1721, although in 1718, Lord Stanhope exchanged positions with Lord Sunderland to form the second Stanhope–Sunderland ministry. Upon Lord Stanhope's death, Robert Walpole, widely considered the first true Prime Minister of Great Britain, returned to head the government.
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The Ministry
edit| Office | Holder | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| First Lord of the Treasury Chancellor of the Exchequer |
The Viscount Stanhope of Mahon | 1717–1718 |
| Secretary of State for the Northern Department | The Earl of Sunderland | 1717–1718 |
| Secretary of State for the Southern Department| | Joseph Addison | 1717–1718 |
| Lord Chancellor | The Lord Cowper | 1717–1718 |
| Lord President of the Council | The Duke of Devonshire | 1717–1718 |
| Lord Privy Seal | The Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull | 1717–1718 |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | The Earl of Berkeley | 1717–1718 |
| Master-General of the Ordnance | The Duke of Marlborough | 1717–1718 |
| Paymaster of the Forces | The Earl of Lincoln | 1717–1718 |
| Lord Lieutenant of Ireland | The Duke of Bolton | 1717–1718 |
| Lord Steward | The Duke of Kent | 1717–1718 |
| Lord Chamberlain | The Duke of Newcastle | 1717–1718 |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | The Duke of Roxburghe | 1717–1718 |