The Privy Council of the

Electorate of Hanover The Electorate of Hanover (german: Kurfürstentum Hannover or simply ''Kurhannover'') was an electorate of the Holy Roman Empire, located in northwestern Germany and taking its name from the capital city of Hanover. It was formally known as ...

, formally known as Brunswick-Lüneburg, was the administrative branch of the electoral (and later royal) government of Hanover. Its members were known as ''ministers'' and often controlled indirectly the other branches of the government, except the military which was always under the direct control of the elector. At least one minister was always with the elector in London between the years 1714 and 1837 as the head of the German Chancery.

Background

The Privy Council gained prominence when Georg Ludwig became

King of Great Britain and Ireland The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional form of government by which a hereditary sovereign reigns as the head of state of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies (the Bailiwi ...

in 1714, leaving management of Hanover to the states via his ''reglement''. At times, the Privy Council was very powerful, especially after the accession of

George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of the two kingdoms on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Br ...

, who never personally traveled to Hanover nor left a regent in his stead. After 1813,

Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, (Adolphus Frederick; 24 February 1774 – 8 July 1850) was the tenth child and seventh son of the British king George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He held the title of Duke of Cambridge from 18 ...

was installed as Governor of Hanover (later to be promoted to Governor-General in 1816, and then Viceroy in 1831), slowly ending the relative autonomy of the Privy Council. Upon the accession of Ernst August in 1837, thereby ending the

dynastic union A dynastic union is a type of union with only two different states that are governed under the same dynasty, with their boundaries, their laws, and their interests remaining distinct from each other. Historical examples Union of Kingdom of Arag ...

between Great Britain and Hanover, the Privy Council returned to its pre-1714 function as an advisory council to the king.

''Premiere Ministers'' of the Privy Council

While technically all the ministers of the council were equal in rank, a head was appointed for the purpose of calling, opening, and closing meetings. This individual, although technically equal to the other members, often became the leader of the Privy Council and would direct decisions. The title became synonymous with that of Prime Minister'' during the terms of some of its holders, although others wielded less power. Some of the premiere ministers include: * Andreas Gottlieb, Count von Bernstorff (1709–1714) * Hans Caspar, Baron von Bothmer (1727–1732) * Heinrich, Baron Grote (1735–1753) * Gerlach Adolph, Baron von Münchhausen (1753–1770) * Levin Adolph, Baron von Hake (1770–1771)

References

{{reflist People from the Electorate of Hanover People from the Kingdom of Hanover House of Hanover