1710 - Political Events

Political Events

Britain achieves her first clean-cut peaceful transfer of power. The Conservative Party wins a clear majority in the October parliamentary elections and ousts the Whig government headed by the duke of Marlborough. The Tory cause has gained popular support as the result of the trial and conviction in March of political preacher Henry Sacheverell, who has attacked the Whig ministry, been impeached at the instigation of Lord Treasurer Sidney Godolphin, and suspended from preaching for 3 years. An ally of Marlborough who has remained loyal to the Jacobite cause, Godolphin is dismissed by Queen Anne, who replaces him with Robert Harley, 48, a former Whig who has gradually changed his political views to become the leader of the Tory and Anglican party. The queen has gradually been soured on Marlborough through the subtle intrigues of Abigail, Lady Masham (née Hill), a cousin of the queen's onetime court favorite Sarah Churchill. Lady Marlborough introduced Cousin Abigail to the court but has now been displaced by her as confidante to the queen and the power behind the throne.

British forces occupy Acadia again but leave the French Acadians in peace (see 1632; 1711 Nova Scotia, 1713).

Robert Hunter arrives at New York June 14 to take over the duties of provincial governor of New York and New Jersey (see 1709). Now 43, Hunter will be governor until 1720, insisting on parliamentary legislation for colonial finance. Governor Hunter's fleet of eight ships brings more than 2,800 Palatine Germans to settle on the Hudson and produce naval stores. The Germans were driven from their homes by French invaders and seek refuge in America. About 470 have died on the voyage, and the survivors are not permitted to set foot in the city, whose population is now close to 6,000. A committee whose members include colonist Robert Livingston has been appointed to manage the affairs of the Palatines, and they are directed to land on Nutten (Governors) Island, where carpenters set up temporary houses and a hospital (see 1711).

Colonel Peter Schuyler of the New York colony takes five Iroquois chiefs to the court of Queen Anne to impress them with Britain's power.