Rockingham and Yorkshire : The political, economic and social role of Charles Watson-Wentworth, the second Marquis of Rockingham.

Charles Watson-Wentworth, second Marquis of Rockingham, is,
perhaps, the most overlooked Prime Minister of the eighteenth century.
The aim of this thesis is to re-examine the current assessments of the
marquis, that he was immature, inept and unfit for high office, and to
revise them as necessary. It also aims to indicate the areas where he
may have been misjudged.
The marquis primarily is placed in his local context of Yorkshire.
His upbringing is studied to give same insight into his background and
then his roles of landowner and local magnate are examined. His duties
of Lord Lieutenant are dealt with by looking at four specific episodes
in which he was involved. His political career is investigated at local
level both as leader of the Rockingham party and particularly in his
ability to influence Yorkshire politics between 1753 and 1782. The udder
interests and concerns of Rockingham in Ireland and America are also
studied.
Rockingham showed great promise as a child although he suffered
from a debilitating illness which recurred throughout his life and probably
caused his sudden and early death. Far from being incompetent and immature,
he was an active estate developer and improver and was a key figure in
the social, economic and political life of the neighbourhood of Wentworth
Woodhouse. He virtually controlled Yorkshire politics for twenty years
and led the largest and best-organized opposition party in parliament
during that time. His views on the problems of Ireland and America have
been under-valued and his personal qualities both for attracting loyalty
and friendship and for his active leadership of his party have not been
given sufficient recognition. In spite of his faults Rockingham was far
more capable and a far more complex person than has been realised.