Prime Factors - Ranking UK Prime Ministers https://www.primefactorspodcast.com Welcome to Prime Factors where we review each UK Prime Minister from Robert Walpole to Keir Starmer. We discuss their biography, highs and lows, and then rate them on a scale designed by a 10-year old before awarding the ultimate prize: Are they ”Known” or an ”Ice Cream Cone”?

]]> Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:21:36 -0400 https://podbean.com/?v=5.5 en Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved History 1440 episodic Joe & Abram Joe & Abram No false https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/feed.xml https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/11669819/Prime_Factors_Cover_Apple_Podcasts_2_fa3guu.jpg Prime Factors - Ranking UK Prime Ministers https://www.primefactorspodcast.com 144 144 Fred & George III: Friends that Lost an Empire (Intelligent Speech 2026 Presentation) Fred & George III: Friends that Lost an Empire (Intelligent Speech 2026 Presentation) https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/fred-george-iii-friends-that-lost-an-empire-intelligent-speech-2026-presentation/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/fred-george-iii-friends-that-lost-an-empire-intelligent-speech-2026-presentation/#comments Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:21:36 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/c3b5f234-896d-30f0-a4b3-e975b6d0941e After a series of failed Prime Ministers, King George III finally found a friend that he could rely on in Frederick North, Lord North. In our IS2026 presentation, we explore their special (perhaps kinship?) relationship and how that shaped the American Revolution. (The Q&A at the end is the best part!) The video version can be found here: https://youtu.be/BvtepR8yhBs?si=i2hy54hT7E8GbNRv

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> After a series of failed Prime Ministers, King George III finally found a friend that he could rely on in Frederick North, Lord North. In our IS2026 presentation, we explore their special (perhaps kinship?) relationship and how that shaped the American Revolution.

(The Q&A at the end is the best part!)

The video version can be found here: https://youtu.be/BvtepR8yhBs?si=i2hy54hT7E8GbNRv

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 1830 36 full 11.3 - Frederick North, Lord North (Part 2) - "The Good Years" 11.3 - Frederick North, Lord North (Part 2) - "The Good Years" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/113-frederick-north-lord-north-part-2-the-good-years/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/113-frederick-north-lord-north-part-2-the-good-years/#comments Mon, 25 May 2026 20:01:00 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/4d2989b4-cade-3dd6-ad48-288de1cfdd39 As Grafton’s government collapsed, Lord North became the last "adult in the room". He lacked the charisma and wealth of his predecessors, but somehow held Britain’s government together better than anyone expected. He navigated crisis after crisis, even winning Chatham's grudging praise: "This tenure seems to be a good one."

Shame about all that tea in Boston Harbor.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> As Grafton’s government collapsed, Lord North became the last "adult in the room". He lacked the charisma and wealth of his predecessors, but somehow held Britain’s government together better than anyone expected. He navigated crisis after crisis, even winning Chatham's grudging praise: "This tenure seems to be a good one."

Shame about all that tea in Boston Harbor.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 2621 35 full 11.2 - The Boston Massacre (The Incident on King Street) 11.2 - The Boston Massacre (The Incident on King Street) https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/112-the-boston-massacre-the-incident-on-king-street/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/112-the-boston-massacre-the-incident-on-king-street/#comments Mon, 04 May 2026 23:36:25 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/3e24b6bc-97a3-384b-b45f-c6c6e44eff90 By 1770, Boston was a city under siege. British Redcoats patrolled the streets while patriot groups like the Sons of Liberty fought a shadow war against British taxation. Tensions rose to a breaking point in March 1770 in an event that some call the first shots of the American Revolution: The Boston Massacre. We attempt to tell the story... from the British perspective.

In far away London, a newly minted Prime Minister North is just settling into his new role.

And check out Abram's new music podcast: Prime Factors Music at www.primefactorsmusic.com or your podcast app of choice.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> By 1770, Boston was a city under siege. British Redcoats patrolled the streets while patriot groups like the Sons of Liberty fought a shadow war against British taxation. Tensions rose to a breaking point in March 1770 in an event that some call the first shots of the American Revolution: The Boston Massacre. We attempt to tell the story... from the British perspective.

In far away London, a newly minted Prime Minister North is just settling into his new role.

And check out Abram's new music podcast: Prime Factors Music at www.primefactorsmusic.com or your podcast app of choice.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 3635 34 full The Beatles (Hosted by Abram) The Beatles (Hosted by Abram) https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/the-beatles/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/the-beatles/#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:01:00 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/e1f2ecc2-d6ea-32d3-887d-6a72a772318a They might not have been bigger than Jesus, but they certainly were bigger than Robert Walpole, William Pitt, or Harold Wilson: they were "The Beatles". In this very special episode, Abram takes the microphone and whisks us into a magical mystery tour of Beatles history from their start as the Quarrymen to a very special rooftop concert, and all of the multi-colored aquatic conveyances in between.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> They might not have been bigger than Jesus, but they certainly were bigger than Robert Walpole, William Pitt, or Harold Wilson: they were "The Beatles". In this very special episode, Abram takes the microphone and whisks us into a magical mystery tour of Beatles history from their start as the Quarrymen to a very special rooftop concert, and all of the multi-colored aquatic conveyances in between.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 1964 33 full 11.1 - Frederick North, Lord North (Part 1): "The Adult in the Room" 11.1 - Frederick North, Lord North (Part 1): "The Adult in the Room" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/111-frederick-north-lord-north-part-1/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/111-frederick-north-lord-north-part-1/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2026 20:01:00 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/5164978d-591a-3572-9f93-6d82ea3215c5 Frederick North spent his childhood in the Leicester House orbit as a playmate of the young George III, a boy with whom he shared an uncanny resemblance. As an adult, he proved himself a man of order, conviction, and fiscal diligence. After a decade of unstable governments, George III called on his old companion to steady the ship of state. But with Britain facing imperial crisis and Boston nearing a deadly confrontation, could a “competent administrator” stop a revolution? Featuring a trailer for the Grand Dukes of the West podcast.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Frederick North spent his childhood in the Leicester House orbit as a playmate of the young George III, a boy with whom he shared an uncanny resemblance. As an adult, he proved himself a man of order, conviction, and fiscal diligence. After a decade of unstable governments, George III called on his old companion to steady the ship of state. But with Britain facing imperial crisis and Boston nearing a deadly confrontation, could a “competent administrator” stop a revolution?

Featuring a trailer for the Grand Dukes of the West podcast.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 3243 32 full 11.0 - Britain in 1770 - On the Eve of the American Revolution (The Story So Far...) 11.0 - Britain in 1770 - On the Eve of the American Revolution (The Story So Far...) https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/110-britain-in-1770-the-story-so-far/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/110-britain-in-1770-the-story-so-far/#comments Sun, 08 Feb 2026 19:00:28 -0500 primefactors.podbean.com/077b5b85-5f62-3cc7-8626-32f96b936f71 By 1770, Britain is a restless empire—troubled at home, strained abroad, and on the brink of a new era. In this special episode, we trace the leaders and events that shaped British politics over the past fifty years: from Robert Walpole’s "notorious corruption" to Henry Pelham’s steady hand, and the uneasy balance between King George III, Parliament, and this new thing called "Prime Minister". The empire had doubled in size in a generation, but with a spark about to ignite in snowy Boston that will change everything.

New to Prime Factors? This is the perfect place to start as we begin our journey into the era of Lord North and the American Revolution.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> By 1770, Britain is a restless empire—troubled at home, strained abroad, and on the brink of a new era. In this special episode, we trace the leaders and events that shaped British politics over the past fifty years: from Robert Walpole’s "notorious corruption" to Henry Pelham’s steady hand, and the uneasy balance between King George III, Parliament, and this new thing called "Prime Minister". The empire had doubled in size in a generation, but with a spark about to ignite in snowy Boston that will change everything.

New to Prime Factors? This is the perfect place to start as we begin our journey into the era of Lord North and the American Revolution.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 2726 31 full 10.2 - Augustus Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton (Part 2): "Has Anyone Seen the Prime Minister?" 10.2 - Augustus Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton (Part 2): "Has Anyone Seen the Prime Minister?" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/102-augustus-fitzroy-3rd-duke-of-grafton-part-2/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/102-augustus-fitzroy-3rd-duke-of-grafton-part-2/#comments Sun, 18 Jan 2026 19:01:00 -0500 primefactors.podbean.com/b5c8d4c3-028a-3130-b6f3-1635a5335755 Britain is in crisis: Rioters in London scream "Wilkes and Liberty!", while the French threaten to take Corsica from the British-backed rebels. The conservative Bedford faction gains ground in Parliament, while Junius savages the administration with his wisdom and wit. Where is Prime Minister Grafton? Has anyone seen our Prime Minister? (He's probably off with his mistress.)

 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Britain is in crisis: Rioters in London scream "Wilkes and Liberty!", while the French threaten to take Corsica from the British-backed rebels. The conservative Bedford faction gains ground in Parliament, while Junius savages the administration with his wisdom and wit. Where is Prime Minister Grafton? Has anyone seen our Prime Minister?

(He's probably off with his mistress.)

 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 3073 30 full 10.1 - Augustus Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton (Part 1): "The Duke Who Preferred Horses (and Mistresses)" 10.1 - Augustus Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton (Part 1): "The Duke Who Preferred Horses (and Mistresses)" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/101-augustus-fitzroy-3rd-duke-of-grafton-part-1/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/101-augustus-fitzroy-3rd-duke-of-grafton-part-1/#comments Mon, 05 Jan 2026 19:02:34 -0500 primefactors.podbean.com/e5cb0c5e-7cb6-3132-b0ca-72e83605e228 Descended from an illegitimate son of Charles II, the Grafton clan seemed to embrace the ignominy, leading lives rocked in equal parts by political power and scandal. Augustus Fitzroy led a comfortable life filled with horses, hunting, and... women, but when duty called, could he put aside his family's proclivities to be the leader that Britain desperately needed?

Thanks to our fantastic podcasting friends who contributed to this episode's "Picture This" segment: John and Rob from Prime Time, Rob from Totalus Rankium, and Kassidy from YouTube. A friend of the show, Adam, also provided some incidental music.

Also includes a trailer for the Alexander Standard podcast.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Descended from an illegitimate son of Charles II, the Grafton clan seemed to embrace the ignominy, leading lives rocked in equal parts by political power and scandal. Augustus Fitzroy led a comfortable life filled with horses, hunting, and... women, but when duty called, could he put aside his family's proclivities to be the leader that Britain desperately needed?

Thanks to our fantastic podcasting friends who contributed to this episode's "Picture This" segment: John and Rob from Prime Time, Rob from Totalus Rankium, and Kassidy from YouTube. A friend of the show, Adam, also provided some incidental music.

Also includes a trailer for the Alexander Standard podcast.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 3581 29 full 9.3 - William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham (Part 3): "Great Commoner No More" 9.3 - William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham (Part 3): "Great Commoner No More" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/93-william-pitt-the-elder-1st-earl-of-chatham-part-3/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/93-william-pitt-the-elder-1st-earl-of-chatham-part-3/#comments Sat, 06 Dec 2025 19:01:00 -0500 primefactors.podbean.com/24ee361d-7ec7-3a93-a762-4c18ee09a760 The Seven Years' War bought Britain an empire but at a staggering price. The Americans cried out "No Taxation Without Representation!" even as Britain struggled to pay to maintain her new territory. Grenville and Rockingham's missteps had pushed the colonists to the brink. It would take a true man of the people, a "Great Commoner", like William Pitt to restore calm. If only his gout wasn't acting up...

Part Three in our trilogy on William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham. 

--

"The Death of the Earl of Chatham" painting by John Singleton Copley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_of_the_Earl_of_Chatham

 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> The Seven Years' War bought Britain an empire but at a staggering price. The Americans cried out "No Taxation Without Representation!" even as Britain struggled to pay to maintain her new territory. Grenville and Rockingham's missteps had pushed the colonists to the brink. It would take a true man of the people, a "Great Commoner", like William Pitt to restore calm. If only his gout wasn't acting up...

Part Three in our trilogy on William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham. 

--

"The Death of the Earl of Chatham" painting by John Singleton Copley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_of_the_Earl_of_Chatham

 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 3941 28 full 9.2 - William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham (Part 2): "The Great Commoner & Hero to the People" 9.2 - William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham (Part 2): "The Great Commoner & Hero to the People" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/92-william-pitt-the-elder-1st-earl-of-chatham-part-2/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/92-william-pitt-the-elder-1st-earl-of-chatham-part-2/#comments Sun, 16 Nov 2025 19:01:00 -0500 primefactors.podbean.com/64c74119-0cfe-371b-b380-26961cef0638 "My Lord, I am sure I can save this country, and no one else can." Britain was losing the Seven Years War and the Duke of Newcastle seemed powerless to stop it. William Pitt had been drummed out of government once, but the mobs in the street still cried out his name. No one had more faith in his abilities than Pitt himself, but could the Great Commoner turn the tide and deliver the British Empire to its greatest victories?

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> "My Lord, I am sure I can save this country, and no one else can." Britain was losing the Seven Years War and the Duke of Newcastle seemed powerless to stop it. William Pitt had been drummed out of government once, but the mobs in the street still cried out his name. No one had more faith in his abilities than Pitt himself, but could the Great Commoner turn the tide and deliver the British Empire to its greatest victories?

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 3380 27 full Italian Unification - Part 2 (Feat. Marco Cappelli of Storia d'Italia) Italian Unification - Part 2 (Feat. Marco Cappelli of Storia d'Italia) https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/italian-unification-part-2-feat-marco-cappelli-of-storia-ditalia/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/italian-unification-part-2-feat-marco-cappelli-of-storia-ditalia/#comments Sun, 26 Oct 2025 20:05:00 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/f62024da-e9a6-3082-9b8a-5cc96111577c At Cavour's death, the dream of a united Italy was still incomplete: Rome and Venice remained outside the newly formed Italian Kingdom. Garibaldi cried out for Rome, but it would take the rise of one empire and the fall of another before the ancient Aurelian walls fell and Italy was whole once again. 

Featuring Marco Cappelli from Storia d'Italia as our special guest co-host!

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> At Cavour's death, the dream of a united Italy was still incomplete: Rome and Venice remained outside the newly formed Italian Kingdom. Garibaldi cried out for Rome, but it would take the rise of one empire and the fall of another before the ancient Aurelian walls fell and Italy was whole once again. 

Featuring Marco Cappelli from Storia d'Italia as our special guest co-host!


Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 4830 26 full Italy Special - Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour (Italy's First Prime Minister & Italian Unification) Italy Special - Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour (Italy's First Prime Minister & Italian Unification) https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/italy-special-camillo-benso-count-of-cavour-italys-first-prime-minister-italian-reunification/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/italy-special-camillo-benso-count-of-cavour-italys-first-prime-minister-italian-reunification/#comments Sat, 23 Aug 2025 20:01:00 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/36c10903-0185-3f0d-a750-cfff70de9e50 Italy was a divided nation, a pawn in the machinations of empires. Camillo Benso, the Count of Cavour, dreamed of a day when Italy could take its place among the nations of the world. As a journalist, Cavour fought for a constitution and parliament. As a statesman, he needed all his cunning (and a little luck) to make friends, scheme with emperors, and pull the disparate parts of Italy together... by force, if necessary. Recorded on location (and vacation!) in Aosta and Venice, in Italy. Our cover art is the Cavour lego mural in his ancestral home of Santena, Italy, which we visited.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Italy was a divided nation, a pawn in the machinations of empires. Camillo Benso, the Count of Cavour, dreamed of a day when Italy could take its place among the nations of the world. As a journalist, Cavour fought for a constitution and parliament. As a statesman, he needed all his cunning (and a little luck) to make friends, scheme with emperors, and pull the disparate parts of Italy together... by force, if necessary.

Recorded on location (and vacation!) in Aosta and Venice, in Italy. Our cover art is the Cavour lego mural in his ancestral home of Santena, Italy, which we visited.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 5381 25 full 9.1B - Smuggling the Pitt Diamond (Bonus Scene) 9.1B - Smuggling the Pitt Diamond (Bonus Scene) https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/91b-smuggling-the-pitt-diamond-bonus-scene/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/91b-smuggling-the-pitt-diamond-bonus-scene/#comments Mon, 04 Aug 2025 20:01:00 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/cc57bcf7-300a-3778-92d7-2e61559ebcae From the depths of the Kollur Mine to the apex of the French crown, the Pitt Diamond (later known as the Regent Diamond) is either the story of a great British adventure, or a terrible Indian tragedy. We retell this story briefly in a bonus scene from William Pitt, Part 1. 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> From the depths of the Kollur Mine to the apex of the French crown, the Pitt Diamond (later known as the Regent Diamond) is either the story of a great British adventure, or a terrible Indian tragedy. We retell this story briefly in a bonus scene from William Pitt, Part 1. 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 435 24 full 9.1 - William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham (Part 1): "A Man of the Empire" 9.1 - William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham (Part 1): "A Man of the Empire" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/91-william-pitt-the-elder-1st-earl-of-chatham-part-1/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/91-william-pitt-the-elder-1st-earl-of-chatham-part-1/#comments Mon, 28 Jul 2025 20:01:00 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/9d876ac0-32cb-3972-b418-d5433424c010 As a boy, William Pitt grew up on stories of his merchant adventuring family. The Pitt fortune was smuggled out of the mines of India, even while his grandfather was the Governor of Madras. Pitt's father nearly lost it all betting on the Jacobites, but they survived. As the second son however, William had to find his own way as he sought fortune in the military and government. The story of one of Britain's greatest military leaders begins here.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> As a boy, William Pitt grew up on stories of his merchant adventuring family. The Pitt fortune was smuggled out of the mines of India, even while his grandfather was the Governor of Madras. Pitt's father nearly lost it all betting on the Jacobites, but they survived. As the second son however, William had to find his own way as he sought fortune in the military and government. The story of one of Britain's greatest military leaders begins here.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 4794 23 full Prime Lies: Robert Walpole (Intelligent Speech 2025 Presentation) Prime Lies: Robert Walpole (Intelligent Speech 2025 Presentation) https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/prime-lies-robert-walpole-intelligent-speech-2025-presentation/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/prime-lies-robert-walpole-intelligent-speech-2025-presentation/#comments Wed, 09 Jul 2025 20:08:22 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/d4ffdb8b-d20a-3331-946e-af2269982301 Who was really the first Prime Minister? Do Prime Ministers even exist? And was Robert Walpole one of those? This bonus episode (recorded at Intelligent Speech 2025) looks at the lies and half-truths behind early British Prime Ministers.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Who was really the first Prime Minister? Do Prime Ministers even exist? And was Robert Walpole one of those? This bonus episode (recorded at Intelligent Speech 2025) looks at the lies and half-truths behind early British Prime Ministers.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 1843 22 full 8.2 - Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (Part 2): "The Repeal: How Britain Almost Avoided the Revolution" 8.2 - Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (Part 2): "The Repeal: How Britain Almost Avoided the Revolution" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/82-charles-watson-wentworth-2nd-marquess-of-rockingham-part-2/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/82-charles-watson-wentworth-2nd-marquess-of-rockingham-part-2/#comments Wed, 25 Jun 2025 22:16:25 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/47455529-ca92-3007-9127-59247e6a5d49 As the Grenville government was on its final legs, Prince William Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland, was tasked with forming a new one... unfortunately right during the Ascot Races. Fortunately for Charles Watson-Wentworth, he was also enjoying the races that day. No one was more surprised than he was to discover that he was now Prime Minister.  

Recorded in Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> As the Grenville government was on its final legs, Prince William Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland, was tasked with forming a new one... unfortunately right during the Ascot Races. Fortunately for Charles Watson-Wentworth, he was also enjoying the races that day. No one was more surprised than he was to discover that he was now Prime Minister.  

Recorded in Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 4298 21 full 8.1 - Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (Part 1): "Rockingham's Jacobite Adventure" 8.1 - Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (Part 1): "Rockingham's Jacobite Adventure" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/81-charles-watson-wentworth-2nd-marquess-of-rockingham-part-1/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/81-charles-watson-wentworth-2nd-marquess-of-rockingham-part-1/#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2025 23:27:47 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/b334e96f-4cae-3bad-b035-8423a6f53968 Charles Watson-Wentworth was not a serious person. After failing to run away at 15 to join Cumberland's army, he spent the remainder of his young adulthood entertaining his way across Europe before throwing one of the largest birthday parties that Yorkshire had ever seen. He loved horse racing, not elections. But with the Whigs floundering and Bute in ascendance, could this party boy be just what the nation needed?

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Charles Watson-Wentworth was not a serious person. After failing to run away at 15 to join Cumberland's army, he spent the remainder of his young adulthood entertaining his way across Europe before throwing one of the largest birthday parties that Yorkshire had ever seen. He loved horse racing, not elections. But with the Whigs floundering and Bute in ascendance, could this party boy be just what the nation needed?

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 4460 20 full Trans-Atlantic Special - Prime Time and Prime Factors (Part 1) Trans-Atlantic Special - Prime Time and Prime Factors (Part 1) https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/trans-atlantic-special-part-1/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/trans-atlantic-special-part-1/#comments Fri, 16 May 2025 20:01:00 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/0483bd35-3dec-3fe8-be9e-0abd5ae22bcf Prime Time and Prime Factors, united at last! Join John, Rob, Abram, and Joe as they look back at the first forty years of British Prime Ministers, answer some quiz questions, and have a great time.

This is Part 1 of 2, you can find the second part by searching for Prime Time Prime Ministers in your podcast app of choice or at www.primetimepod.com. Recorded on location at the Travel Cafe in Waterloo, London! 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Prime Time and Prime Factors, united at last! Join John, Rob, Abram, and Joe as they look back at the first forty years of British Prime Ministers, answer some quiz questions, and have a great time.

This is Part 1 of 2, you can find the second part by searching for Prime Time Prime Ministers in your podcast app of choice or at www.primetimepod.com.

Recorded on location at the Travel Cafe in Waterloo, London! 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 2413 19 full 7.2 - George Grenville (Part 2): "Wilkes, Liberty, and the Road to Revolution" 7.2 - George Grenville (Part 2): "Wilkes, Liberty, and the Road to Revolution" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/72-george-grenville-part-two/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/72-george-grenville-part-two/#comments Mon, 14 Apr 2025 22:38:12 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/25fa29ab-066c-3741-a5ad-61a781831364 Having abandoned his family in the pursuit of power, George Grenville rose to the highest office in the land. As riots broke out in England and the New World over his unpopular policies, would George Grenville rise above the fray and find success as a Prime Minister? Well, no. 

Recorded once again at the Walpole Public Library as we continue to celebrate our anniversary.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Having abandoned his family in the pursuit of power, George Grenville rose to the highest office in the land. As riots broke out in England and the New World over his unpopular policies, would George Grenville rise above the fray and find success as a Prime Minister? Well, no. 

Recorded once again at the Walpole Public Library as we continue to celebrate our anniversary.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 4268 18 full Larry the Cat & 10 Downing Street (Feat. Kit from Prime Time) Larry the Cat & 10 Downing Street (Feat. Kit from Prime Time) https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/larry-the-cat-prime-factors-anniversary-special/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/larry-the-cat-prime-factors-anniversary-special/#comments Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/d637de31-4a40-3b03-a472-5d89843854ba All it took was a rat-sized metaphor scampering across the 10 Downing Street stoop to put David Cameron on the back foot politically. Fortunately, the UK has a long history of mousers in government.

Featuring Kit (fka "Kess") from Prime Time as our special guest host!

Please enjoy our special anniversary (and April Fools) edition of Prime Factors with some very real history about cats in the British government.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> All it took was a rat-sized metaphor scampering across the 10 Downing Street stoop to put David Cameron on the back foot politically. Fortunately, the UK has a long history of mousers in government.

Featuring Kit (fka "Kess") from Prime Time as our special guest host!

Please enjoy our special anniversary (and April Fools) edition of Prime Factors with some very real history about cats in the British government.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 2896 17 full 7.1 - George Grenville (Part 1): "The Man in Pitt's Shadow" 7.1 - George Grenville (Part 1): "The Man in Pitt's Shadow" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/71-george-grenville-part-1/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/71-george-grenville-part-1/#comments Wed, 26 Feb 2025 21:16:34 -0500 primefactors.podbean.com/11324622-8eb0-3ced-b74f-2141a6484e3b George Grenville wanted to be a lawyer, but when his Uncle Cobham needed more MPs to form his "Cobham Cubs" to fight Robert Walpole, George dutifully entered parliament. With Pitt by their side, the family seemed unstoppable. But after decades playing second-fiddle, would George Grenville step out of his family's shadow and find his own path?

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> George Grenville wanted to be a lawyer, but when his Uncle Cobham needed more MPs to form his "Cobham Cubs" to fight Robert Walpole, George dutifully entered parliament. With Pitt by their side, the family seemed unstoppable. But after decades playing second-fiddle, would George Grenville step out of his family's shadow and find his own path?

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 4278 16 full 7.0 - The Stamp Act: The Tax that Started a Revolution 7.0 - The Stamp Act: The Tax that Started a Revolution https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/70-stamp-act-special/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/70-stamp-act-special/#comments Tue, 28 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0500 primefactors.podbean.com/53cd6297-9033-3ad1-b846-66fdb240ee40 With victory in the Seven Years War came the spoils, in this case inconceivable debt and the need to increase the size of the military to defend Britain's new territory. George Grenville had a fantastic idea: let's tax the colonies! 

In this special mini episode (recorded at WCA-TV in Watertown, MA), we look at the hated Stamp Act and the start of the road to American independence.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> With victory in the Seven Years War came the spoils, in this case inconceivable debt and the need to increase the size of the military to defend Britain's new territory. George Grenville had a fantastic idea: let's tax the colonies! 

In this special mini episode (recorded at WCA-TV in Watertown, MA), we look at the hated Stamp Act and the start of the road to American independence.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 1535 15 full 6.2 - John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (Part 2): "The Most Hated Man in England" 6.2 - John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (Part 2): "The Most Hated Man in England" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/62-john-stuart-3rd-earl-of-bute-part-2/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/62-john-stuart-3rd-earl-of-bute-part-2/#comments Wed, 08 Jan 2025 20:08:41 -0500 primefactors.podbean.com/56edb9ea-1980-3fc1-99c8-499a401e8e6b With the ascension of George III, John Stuart found himself as the chief advisor to the king with a mandate to end the Seven Years' War and reduce government corruption. This is the story of how a Scottish botanist became the most hated man in England. 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> With the ascension of George III, John Stuart found himself as the chief advisor to the king with a mandate to end the Seven Years' War and reduce government corruption. This is the story of how a Scottish botanist became the most hated man in England. 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 5194 14 full 6.1 - John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (Part 1): "The King's Best Friend" 6.1 - John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (Part 1): "The King's Best Friend" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/6-john-stuart-3rd-earl-of-bute/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/6-john-stuart-3rd-earl-of-bute/#comments Fri, 06 Dec 2024 19:22:37 -0500 primefactors.podbean.com/26d0e5aa-8edf-398b-bc96-4ff293a77857 Few things made John Stuart happier than the theater or collecting specimens on the banks of the Thames. Just as he was settling in to a quiet life, a chance meeting with Prince Frederick set the Earl of Bute on an unexpected collision course with British politics. 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Few things made John Stuart happier than the theater or collecting specimens on the banks of the Thames. Just as he was settling in to a quiet life, a chance meeting with Prince Frederick set the Earl of Bute on an unexpected collision course with British politics. 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 4589 13 full 5.2 - James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave: "The Four-Day Prime Minister" 5.2 - James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave: "The Four-Day Prime Minister" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/uk-special-2-james-waldegrave-2nd-earl-waldegrave/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/uk-special-2-james-waldegrave-2nd-earl-waldegrave/#comments Fri, 01 Nov 2024 12:14:10 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/66319584-11f1-3cab-8e15-3947618dd0d4 With the collapse of the Newcastle and Devonshire governments amid failures in the Seven Years War, King George II needed a leader who could right the ship of state. Instead, he chose James Waldegrave, a man whose primary qualification was that he was the young Prince George's former babysitter. It went about as well as you'd expect. 

Featuring badly sung musical numbers including "Old Sarum-Gatton-Newtown-East Looe-Dunwich-Plympton Erle" (the Rotten Boroughs Song), "A Spoonful of Corruption", and more. 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> With the collapse of the Newcastle and Devonshire governments amid failures in the Seven Years War, King George II needed a leader who could right the ship of state. Instead, he chose James Waldegrave, a man whose primary qualification was that he was the young Prince George's former babysitter. It went about as well as you'd expect. 

Featuring badly sung musical numbers including "Old Sarum-Gatton-Newtown-East Looe-Dunwich-Plympton Erle" (the Rotten Boroughs Song), "A Spoonful of Corruption", and more. 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 4373 12 full 5.1 - William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire: "The Placeholder Prime Minister" 5.1 - William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire: "The Placeholder Prime Minister" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/5-william-cavendish-4th-duke-of-devonshire/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/5-william-cavendish-4th-duke-of-devonshire/#comments Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:00:00 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/6b49a5cb-bfd0-389d-bcaf-d9cc86fe2c4b William Cavendish never wanted to be Prime Minister. But in 1756, Britain was in crisis: France was winning the Seven Years' War, the Newcastle government had collapsed, and George II was in a panic. He needed someone to hold the country steady until a more permanent government could be formed. That man was William Cavendish.

Recorded at the Pointe Hotel in Cavendish, Vermont.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> William Cavendish never wanted to be Prime Minister. But in 1756, Britain was in crisis: France was winning the Seven Years' War, the Newcastle government had collapsed, and George II was in a panic. He needed someone to hold the country steady until a more permanent government could be formed. That man was William Cavendish.

Recorded at the Pointe Hotel in Cavendish, Vermont.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 5354 11 full 4.2 - Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle (Part 2): "The Partnership that Won the Seven Years War" 4.2 - Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle (Part 2): "The Partnership that Won the Seven Years War" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/42-thomas-pelham-holles-1st-duke-of-newcastle-part-2/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/42-thomas-pelham-holles-1st-duke-of-newcastle-part-2/#comments Thu, 05 Sep 2024 19:21:21 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/20d6c204-eb92-32b2-90a6-d37247bdc98e Thomas Pelham-Holles aimed for a quiet term as Prime Minister, hoping to reduce taxes, combat smuggling, and avoid major conflicts. But when a 22-year-old George Washington accidentally ignited the Seven Years War, Pelham-Holles quickly found himself in deeper trouble than he could have imagined.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Thomas Pelham-Holles aimed for a quiet term as Prime Minister, hoping to reduce taxes, combat smuggling, and avoid major conflicts. But when a 22-year-old George Washington accidentally ignited the Seven Years War, Pelham-Holles quickly found himself in deeper trouble than he could have imagined.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 4761 10 full 4.1 - Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle (Part 1): "The Duke Who Loved a Mob" 4.1 - Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle (Part 1): "The Duke Who Loved a Mob" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/41-thomas-pelham-holles-1st-duke-of-newcastle-part-1/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/41-thomas-pelham-holles-1st-duke-of-newcastle-part-1/#comments Thu, 22 Aug 2024 18:48:09 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/67414ad7-ac59-31b9-bc1e-019227617817 Thomas Pelham-Holles, heir to two fortunes, may have been spectacularly bad at managing money, but he excelled in 18th-century Whig politics. Entering the House of Lords at 21, he quickly rose to become a Duke, Lord Chamberlain, and eventually Secretary of State—despite never having stepped outside of England. Alongside his brother, Prime Minister Henry Pelham, the siblings became an unbeatable force in British politics. But after his brother's death, can the duke notorious for financial mismanagement really be trusted with the British Treasury?

Recorded on location at the Community Room in Newcastle, Maine, with a brief colonial history of the town included.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Thomas Pelham-Holles, heir to two fortunes, may have been spectacularly bad at managing money, but he excelled in 18th-century Whig politics. Entering the House of Lords at 21, he quickly rose to become a Duke, Lord Chamberlain, and eventually Secretary of State—despite never having stepped outside of England. Alongside his brother, Prime Minister Henry Pelham, the siblings became an unbeatable force in British politics. But after his brother's death, can the duke notorious for financial mismanagement really be trusted with the British Treasury?

Recorded on location at the Community Room in Newcastle, Maine, with a brief colonial history of the town included.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 4983 9 full 3.3 - William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath: "The Two-Day Prime Minister" 3.3 - William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath: "The Two-Day Prime Minister" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/uk-special-1-william-pulteney-1st-earl-of-bath/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/uk-special-1-william-pulteney-1st-earl-of-bath/#comments Fri, 26 Jul 2024 21:32:41 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/616650b0-4190-33ba-af89-91e5bb298ac1 Two days. William Pulteney was one of the greatest orators of his generation. After his relationship with Robert Walpole soured, he became Walpole’s fiercest critic. Crusading against corruption in the press and parliament, Pulteney even turned down the role of Prime Minister. However, when George II called upon him during a crisis, he stepped into the highest role in the land... for two days.

This episode was recorded on location at Tarleton Castle in Bath, New Hampshire. Following the episode, we have a brief interview with Tim Dailey, the Executive Director of Tarleton Castle Arts. You can find out more about the project at https://tarletoncastle.org/.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Two days. William Pulteney was one of the greatest orators of his generation. After his relationship with Robert Walpole soured, he became Walpole’s fiercest critic. Crusading against corruption in the press and parliament, Pulteney even turned down the role of Prime Minister. However, when George II called upon him during a crisis, he stepped into the highest role in the land... for two days.

This episode was recorded on location at Tarleton Castle in Bath, New Hampshire. Following the episode, we have a brief interview with Tim Dailey, the Executive Director of Tarleton Castle Arts. You can find out more about the project at https://tarletoncastle.org/.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 4784 8 full Japan Special - Itō Hirobumi (Japan's 1st Prime Minister & the Meiji Restoration) Japan Special - Itō Hirobumi (Japan's 1st Prime Minister & the Meiji Restoration) https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/japan-special-ito-hirobumi-japans-1st-prime-minister-the-meiji-restoration/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/japan-special-ito-hirobumi-japans-1st-prime-minister-the-meiji-restoration/#comments Thu, 04 Jul 2024 01:22:13 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/2cf3d1d3-0aa0-353c-b094-3b403596a928 Itō Hirobumi: from peasant to samurai, terrorist to diplomat, and a key architect of modern Japan. Smuggled out of the "hermit kingdom" to learn from the West, he returned to a nation in tumult. Author of the Meiji Constitution and its staunchest advocate, he led Japan through four pivotal terms as it emerged as a global power.

Recorded on location (and vacation!) in Tokyo, Japan. 

Please answer our survey if you liked this special episode HERE.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Itō Hirobumi: from peasant to samurai, terrorist to diplomat, and a key architect of modern Japan. Smuggled out of the "hermit kingdom" to learn from the West, he returned to a nation in tumult. Author of the Meiji Constitution and its staunchest advocate, he led Japan through four pivotal terms as it emerged as a global power.

Recorded on location (and vacation!) in Tokyo, Japan. 

Please answer our survey if you liked this special episode HERE.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 5381 7 full 3.2 - Henry Pelham (Part 2): "The Incorruptible Brother" 3.2 - Henry Pelham (Part 2): "The Incorruptible Brother" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/32-henry-pelham-part-2/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/32-henry-pelham-part-2/#comments Thu, 20 Jun 2024 18:27:55 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/e71eca7d-8d33-3bc0-abe1-7e74b3a86c4b Facing threats from the Jacobites in the north and the French to the south, Henry Pelham faced off against George II… and the king blinked. He balanced competing factions and an empty treasury as Britain’s third Prime Minister. 

Recorded on location at the Pelham Public Library in Pelham, New Hampshire. 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Facing threats from the Jacobites in the north and the French to the south, Henry Pelham faced off against George II… and the king blinked. He balanced competing factions and an empty treasury as Britain’s third Prime Minister. 

Recorded on location at the Pelham Public Library in Pelham, New Hampshire. 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 4176 6 full 3.1 - Henry Pelham (Part 1): "The Brother Who Earned It" 3.1 - Henry Pelham (Part 1): "The Brother Who Earned It" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/31-henry-pelham-part-1/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/31-henry-pelham-part-1/#comments Thu, 06 Jun 2024 20:07:20 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/4dffa288-21a4-32ac-919f-ca8568a4456c Born the "spare" second son of Baron Pelham, Henry watched his brother bask in the glow of wealth and titles. With the seat in Parliament his brother bought for him, Henry found his own voice, teamed up with Robert Walpole, and zoomed up the political ranks. Stepping out from his sibling's shadow, Henry Pelham soon stood tall as Britain’s third Prime Minister. Recorded on location at the Pelham Public Library in Pelham, Massachusetts.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Born the "spare" second son of Baron Pelham, Henry watched his brother bask in the glow of wealth and titles. With the seat in Parliament his brother bought for him, Henry found his own voice, teamed up with Robert Walpole, and zoomed up the political ranks. Stepping out from his sibling's shadow, Henry Pelham soon stood tall as Britain’s third Prime Minister.

Recorded on location at the Pelham Public Library in Pelham, Massachusetts.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 4808 5 full 2 - Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington: "The King's Second Choice" 2 - Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington: "The King's Second Choice" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/2-spencer-compton/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/2-spencer-compton/#comments Sat, 18 May 2024 10:41:37 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/28ea6e5d-d834-303f-80fb-cb4d951c8a68 From his humble birth in the Compton family castle, Spencer Compton rose to become a "dull, important Lord" in Parliament. Walpole out-maneuvered in 1727 to steal the top job from him, but Spencer Compton, the Earl of Wilmington, would get his revenge and (eventually) become Prime Minister. Recorded on location at the Wilmington Memorial Library in Wilmington, Massachusetts. 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> From his humble birth in the Compton family castle, Spencer Compton rose to become a "dull, important Lord" in Parliament. Walpole out-maneuvered in 1727 to steal the top job from him, but Spencer Compton, the Earl of Wilmington, would get his revenge and (eventually) become Prime Minister. Recorded on location at the Wilmington Memorial Library in Wilmington, Massachusetts. 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe & Abram false No 3878 4 full 1.2 - Robert Walpole (Part 2): "Every Man Has His Price" 1.2 - Robert Walpole (Part 2): "Every Man Has His Price" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/12-robert-walpole-part-2/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/12-robert-walpole-part-2/#comments Fri, 03 May 2024 18:24:59 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/ef4afbb7-2273-3e42-aa36-031b69cfcf8b Our first rating! We discuss how Robert Walpole rose from the disaster of the South Sea Company bubble to control all the levers of power in Parliament, his near-loss to Spencer Compton after the death of George I, and his eventual decline and defeat thanks to a disagreement with Spain over a severed left ear. Recorded on location in Walpole, Massachusetts in the Stone Room at the Walpole Public Library.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Our first rating! We discuss how Robert Walpole rose from the disaster of the South Sea Company bubble to control all the levers of power in Parliament, his near-loss to Spencer Compton after the death of George I, and his eventual decline and defeat thanks to a disagreement with Spain over a severed left ear.

Recorded on location in Walpole, Massachusetts in the Stone Room at the Walpole Public Library.

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe Pranevich false No 4353 3 full 1.1 - Robert Walpole (Part 1): "The South Sea Bubble and the Rise of Robert Walpole" 1.1 - Robert Walpole (Part 1): "The South Sea Bubble and the Rise of Robert Walpole" https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/11-robert-walpole-part-1/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/11-robert-walpole-part-1/#comments Fri, 03 May 2024 18:18:35 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/daabb1d1-eb8b-3660-ba75-726f07055cb4 Abram and I look at Robert Walpole from birth to 1721, the traditional start of his time as prime minister. We cover his early elections, his rise in the Whig party, his stint in the Tower of London for corruption, and how he rose in power to become the dominant force in British politics of his day. (Hint: It involved family connections and bribery.)

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Abram and I look at Robert Walpole from birth to 1721, the traditional start of his time as prime minister. We cover his early elections, his rise in the Whig party, his stint in the Tower of London for corruption, and how he rose in power to become the dominant force in British politics of his day. (Hint: It involved family connections and bribery.)

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe Pranevich false No 2898 2 full 0 - Introduction to Parliament - How Britain Invented the Prime Minister 0 - Introduction to Parliament - How Britain Invented the Prime Minister https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/0-introduction-to-parliament/ https://www.primefactorspodcast.com/e/0-introduction-to-parliament/#comments Fri, 03 May 2024 18:14:03 -0400 primefactors.podbean.com/dc2d1f25-2b64-31ec-957c-f1ac1e2400c7 Our pilot episode! Abram and I discuss the history of the UK Parliament from the Saxons up to 1721 and the beginning of the idea of a "prime minister". 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Our pilot episode! Abram and I discuss the history of the UK Parliament from the Saxons up to 1721 and the beginning of the idea of a "prime minister". 

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your ranking! Find us on BlueSky at @primefactorspod.bsky.social

Support the Show: If you enjoyed our show, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps others find us and makes Abram very excited.

]]> Joe Pranevich false No 2864 1 full