Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A British statesman: Refers to Sir Robert Walpole, an Englishman and Whig statesman who effectively served as the first British Prime Minister from 1676 to 1745.
   • A British writer: Refers to Horace Walpole, an English writer, historian, and son of Sir Robert Walpole, who lived from 1717 to 1797.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun (Sir Robert Walpole):

  • Walpole is often credited with establishing the modern role of Prime Minister.
  • The policies of Walpole emphasized peace and economic stability.

• Proper noun (Horace Walpole):

  • Walpole wrote the influential Gothic novel 'The Castle of Otranto'.
  • The extensive correspondence of Walpole provides a detailed view of 18th-century life.

Advanced Usage

• "Walpolian" (adjective): Pertaining to or characteristic of the policies, era, or style of Sir Robert Walpole or Horace Walpole.
  • The historian analyzed the Walpolian approach to fiscal policy.
  • The house was decorated in a Walpolian Gothic style.

Variants and Related Words

• Earl of Orford: A title held by both Robert Walpole and later by his son, Horace Walpole.
• Whig: The political party with which Robert Walpole was associated.

Synonyms

• For Robert Walpole: First Lord of the Treasury (his official title), statesman.
• For Horace Walpole: Author, man of letters, antiquarian.

Related Phrases

• "Walpole's tenure": Commonly refers to the lengthy period of political dominance by Robert Walpole.
  • Walpole's tenure was marked by a period of relative political stability.
• "Strawberry Hill": Refers to Horace Walpole's estate and the style of Gothic Revival architecture he pioneered there.
  • The house was a prime example of the Strawberry Hill style popularized by Walpole.

Noun

1. Englishman and Whig statesman who (under George I) was effectively the first British prime minister (1676-1745)
2. English writer and historian; son of Sir Robert Walpole (1717-1797)