First Stanhope–Sunderland ministry

Robert Walpole and Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend were removed from their positions in the government (the latter having already previously been demoted to Lord Lieutenant of Ireland), and were replaced by James Stanhope, 1st Viscount Stanhope of Mahon and Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland, who cooperatively led the first Stanhope–Sunderland ministry. The two Whigs remained in power from 1717 to 1721, although in 1718, Lord Stanhope exchanged positions with Lord Sunderland to form the second Stanhope–Sunderland ministry. Upon Lord Stanhope's death, Robert Walpole, widely considered the first true Prime Minister of Great Britain, returned to head the government.

Stanhope (left) and Sunderland (right)

The Ministry

Office	Holder	Tenure
First Lord of the Treasury Chancellor of the Exchequer	The Viscount Stanhope of Mahon	1717–1718
Secretary of State for the Northern Department	The Earl of Sunderland	1717–1718
Secretary of State for the Southern Department\|	Joseph Addison	1717–1718
Lord Chancellor	The Lord Cowper	1717–1718
Lord President of the Council	The Duke of Devonshire	1717–1718
Lord Privy Seal	The Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull	1717–1718
First Lord of the Admiralty	The Earl of Berkeley	1717–1718
Master-General of the Ordnance	The Duke of Marlborough	1717–1718
Paymaster of the Forces	The Earl of Lincoln	1717–1718
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland	The Duke of Bolton	1717–1718
Lord Steward	The Duke of Kent	1717–1718
Lord Chamberlain	The Duke of Newcastle	1717–1718
Secretary of State for Scotland	The Duke of Roxburghe	1717–1718

Preceded by Townshend ministry	Government of Great Britain 1717–1718	Succeeded by Second Stanhope–Sunderland ministry