Records of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom

Records of Prime Ministers of Great Britain and Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom: The Prime Minister with the longest single term was Sir Robert Walpole, lasting 20 years and 314 days from 4 April 1721 until 11 February 1742. This is also longer than the accumulated terms of any other Prime Minister. The shortest period in office is more confused, depending on the criteria. The shortest ever period was only two days, a record held by the Ear... more

Records of Prime Ministers of Great Britain and Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom: The Prime Minister with the longest single term was Sir Robert Walpole, lasting 20 years and 314 days from 4 April 1721 until 11 February 1742. This is also longer than the accumulated terms of any other Prime Minister. The shortest period in office is more confused, depending on the criteria. The shortest ever period was only two days, a record held by the Earl of Bath, from 10 February to 12 February 1746, who was asked to form a government but was unable to find more than one person who would agree to serve in his cabinet. A satirist of the time wrote: "the minister to the astonishment of all wise men never transacted one rash thing; and, what is more marvellous, left as much money in the Treasury as he found in it." The 2nd Earl Waldegrave was prime minister for four days, from 8 June to 12 June 1757. However, since neither of these Earls actually formed an effective government, there are other... less