Augustus Henry Fitzroy 3d duke of Grafton

Augustus Henry Fitzroy Grafton, 3d duke of 1735-1811, British statesman. After serving as a secretary of state (1765-66), he became first lord of the treasury in Lord Chatham's administration (1766-68) and, because of Chatham's illness, effective chief minister. He officially became chief minister in 1768. His handling of the John Wilkes affair and the growing crisis in the American colonies led to the break-up of his ministry, and he resigned in 1770. He was lord privy seal under Lord North (1771-75) and under lords Rockingham (1782) and Shelburne (1782-83).

Grafton, Augustus Henry Fitzroy, 3rd duke of (1735–1811). Prime minister. Grafton became secretary of state in the first Rockingham administration, but resigned in April 1766 after the failure to negotiate Pitt's entry into the ministry. Grafton returned to office in July, when Pitt (now earl of Chatham) succeeded Rockingham as prime minister. Although Grafton became 1st lord of the Treasury, Chatham headed the ministry as lord privy seal. This unusual arrangement did not achieve its object of preserving Chatham's precarious health. Grafton gradually emerged as de facto prime minister during 1767 and officially led the ministry after Chatham finally resigned in October 1768. The Grafton ministry was plagued with serious problems, such as the Wilkes case and the Townshend duties crisis; Grafton himself was ridiculed in the press by Junius. Unable to withstand the pressure, Grafton resigned in January 1770. He never returned to the front rank of politics, but served as lord privy seal in 1771–5 and 1782–3.

Grafton, Augustus Henry Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of (1735–1811) British statesman, Prime Minister (1766–70). He was first Lord of the Treasury until PITT the Elder's resignation from office. Although he favoured a conciliatory policy towards the Americans, he was overruled in cabinet. He handled WILKES's return from exile badly, and was subjected to ferocious personal attacks by the satirical writer known as ‘Junius’. He held office again under NORTH in 1771 and under SHELBURNE in 1782, but played little part in politics thereafter.