Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend, was appointed Secretary of State for the Northern Department by George I of Great Britain in September 1714. Until 1717, he held the position of Northern Secretary and was the de facto leader of the Whig administration. However, he was later demoted to Lord Lieutenant of Ireland when he was outmanoeuvred by his rival Whigs, who formed the first Stanhope-Sunderland ministry. This led to a split within the Whig party that lasted until 1720.

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• Robert Walpole served as both First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1715 and 1717.
• While serving as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1714–1717), Lord Sunderland additionally served as Lord Privy Seal between 1715 and 1716.

• 5th Parliament of Great Britain

• Terry, Benjamin Stites (1908). "First Era of Whig Rule". A History of England from the Earliest Times to the Death of Queen Victoria. Chicago: Scott, Foresman and Company. OL 14012649M.