born Oct. 14, 1712
died Nov. 13, 1770, London, Eng.
English politician.
He entered Parliament in 1741, held a number of ministerial appointments, then served as prime minister (176365). His policy of taxing the American colonies, initiated by his Revenue Act of 1764 and the Stamp Act of 1765, started the train of events leading to the American Revolution . He was unpopular for the prosecution of John Wilkes for seditious libel and his clumsy handling of the Regency Act of 1765, alienating George III and leading to the fall of his ministry. In opposition thereafter, Grenville helped bring about the passage of the Townshend Acts (1767).