<Ul> <Li> Politician </Li> <Li> scholar </Li> </Ul> <Tr> <Th> Signature </Th> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <P> Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC (26 August 1676--18 March 1745), known before 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British statesman who is generally regarded as the de facto first Prime Minister of Great Britain . Although the exact dates of his dominance, the "Robinocracy", are a matter of scholarly debate, the period 1721--1742 is often used . He dominated the Walpole--Townshend ministry and the subsequent Walpole ministry, and holds the record as the longest - serving British prime minister in history . Speck says that Walpole's uninterrupted run of 20 years as Prime Minister </P> <P> is rightly regarded as one of the major feats of British political history...Explanations are usually offered in terms of his expert handling of the political system after 1720, (and) his unique blending of the surviving powers of the crown with the increasing influence of the Commons . </P>

Who is considered to be the first true prime minister of england