Talents, Ministry of All the

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Talents, Ministry of All the, 1806–7. A coalition government formed in February 1806, following Pitt's death. Supposedly embracing ‘All the Talents’, it was composed of the followers of Lord Grenville and Charles Fox, bolstered by those of Lord Sidmouth (Addington). Some former Pittites were, nevertheless, excluded, despite their acknowledged abilities. The resignation of the Talents in March 1807 was precipitated by George III, who rejected a limited measure of catholic relief and demanded that this question never again be raised. The king called on the excluded Pittites, under Portland, to form a replacement ministry. This change-over did not, however, destroy the Talents' greatest achievement: the abolition of the slave trade in May 1807.

David Wilkinson