John Stuart 3d earl of Bute

John Stuart Bute, 3d earl of 1713-92, British politician. He was prominent as a friend of Frederick Louis, prince of Wales, as early as 1747 and became the tutor of Frederick's impressionable son, the future George III . When George became king in 1760, Bute was appointed a privy councilor, first gentleman of the bedchamber, and (Mar., 1761) a secretary of state. George III's policies of destroying the Whig monopoly of political power, of making the monarch supreme over Parliament, and of ending the war with France were pursued largely under Bute's influence. After the resignation (Oct., 1761) of William Pitt (later earl of Chatham) from office, Bute became chief minister. Although he concluded the Treaty of Paris (1763), ending the increasingly unpopular war, he lacked parliamentary support and resigned shortly thereafter. George III rapidly outgrew his youthful dependence on his friend.

Bibliography: See biography by J. A. Lovat Fraser (1912); R. Sedgewick, ed., Letters from George III to Lord Bute, 1756-1766 (1936); R. Pares, George III and the Politicians (1953).

Bute, John Stuart, 3rd Earl of (1713–92) Scottish courtier and Tory statesman, Prime Minister (1762–63). His influence with George III ensured his appointment as Premier, but he was widely disliked and soon fell out of favour with the king.

Bute, John Stuart, 3rd earl of [S] (1713–92). Prime minister. Bute served as tutor to the prince of Wales from 1755, thereby acquiring an influence which gave rise to political controversy after the latter's succession as George III in 1760. Initially holding only a court appointment, Bute rose to become secretary of state in 1761 and 1st lord of the Treasury in May 1762 until his resignation the following April. Disheartened by the difficulties in implementing the theoretical reign of virtue which had so impressed his royal pupil, Bute gave up the struggle. Exaggerated fears about his continuing influence (as a ‘minister behind the curtain’) destabilized the administrations of both Grenville and Rockingham. Beyond the sphere of politics, he was not only a patron of education, literature, and the fine arts, but also a keen student of science, with a particular interest in botany.