# Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth

> Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1801 to 1804

**Wikidata**: [Q312577](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312577)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Addington)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/henry-addington-1st-viscount-sidmouth

## Summary
Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth, was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1804. A key figure in early 19th-century governance, he led the nation during a critical period marked by geopolitical tensions, including the Napoleonic Wars. His tenure coincided with the transition from the Kingdom of Great Britain to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801.

## Biography
- **Born**: [Date and place not specified in source material]  
- **Nationality**: British (later United Kingdom)  
- **Education**: Attended Cheam School, Winchester College, and Brasenose College, Oxford.  
- **Known for**: Serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1801–1804).  
- **Employer(s)**: United Kingdom Government (as Prime Minister).  
- **Field(s)**: Politics, governance.  

## Contributions
- **Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1801–1804)**: Led the government during the early years of the United Kingdom, succeeding William Pitt the Younger. His administration navigated domestic challenges and foreign policy during the Napoleonic Wars.  
- **Political Leadership**: Contributed to maintaining national stability amid political divisions and external threats, though specific policy achievements are not detailed in the source material.  

## FAQs
- **Q: Where was Henry Addington educated?**  
  A: He attended Cheam School, Winchester College, and Brasenose College, Oxford.  
- **Q: What was Henry Addington’s most notable political role?**  
  A: He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1804.  
- **Q: What historical context shaped Addington’s premiership?**  
  A: His tenure began shortly after the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801, succeeding the Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1800).  

## Why They Matter
Henry Addington’s leadership as Prime Minister during the Napoleonic Wars and the UK’s formative years underscored his role in maintaining continuity amid regional and global instability. While his tenure lacked transformative legislative achievements, his ability to sustain governance during a volatile period reinforced institutional resilience. Without his steadying presence, the UK’s early political framework might have faced greater strain, potentially altering the trajectory of British statehood.

## Notable For
- First Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following the 1801 union with Ireland.  
- Affiliation with historic educational institutions: Brasenose College (founded 1509), Winchester College (founded 1382), and Cheam School (founded 1645).  
- Holder of the hereditary title Viscount Sidmouth.  

## Body

### Early Life and Education  
Henry Addington was educated at **Cheam School** (founded 1645), **Winchester College** (established 1382), and **Brasenose College, Oxford** (founded 1509). These institutions, with histories spanning centuries, provided a classical education typical of Britain’s elite during the 18th century.  

### Career  
Addington’s political career culminated in his appointment as **Prime Minister of the United Kingdom** in 1801, a position he held until 1804. His leadership followed the Acts of Union 1800, which merged Great Britain and Ireland into the United Kingdom. This period was defined by:  
- **Geopolitical Context**: Ongoing conflict with Napoleonic France, requiring strategic diplomacy and military preparedness.  
- **Domestic Governance**: Managing post-union integration and addressing internal political factions.  

### Historical Context  
- **Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1800)**: Addington’s premiership began just after this entity transitioned to the United Kingdom, reflecting broader imperial reorganization.  
- **Institutional Affiliations**: His ties to **Brasenose College**, **Winchester College**, and **Cheam School** linked him to England’s educational heritage, though specific roles at these institutions are unspecified.  

### Legacy  
While Addington’s tenure lacked landmark reforms, his role as a stabilizing figure during the UK’s foundational years cemented his place in political history. The title **Viscount Sidmouth**, conferred in 1801, symbolized his elevated status within the British peerage. His leadership during the Napoleonic Wars underscored the challenges of balancing national security with domestic governance—a precedent for future UK administrations.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. The Peerage
3. Source
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
7. SNAC
8. Find a Grave
9. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
10. GeneaStar
11. Prabook
12. Croatian Encyclopedia
13. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
14. National Library of Israel
15. [History of Henry Addington 1st Viscount Sidmouth - GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/history/past-prime-ministers/henry-addington-1st-viscount-sidmouth)
16. CERL Thesaurus
17. Deutsche Biographie