Robert Walpole blue plaque

This blue commemorative plaque records: Sir Robert Walpole (1676 - 1745) Rebuilt Houghton Hall and M. P. for Kings Lynn (1702 - 1742) when it was one of the Kingdom's premier ports. Britain's first Prime Minister during the reigns of George I and II. Sir Robert was a frequent patron of the Duke's Head where his supporters held balls to celebrate his regular election to Parliament for King's Lynn. He shared the representation of the borough with his brother-in-law, Sir Charles Turner (1666 - 1738), whose uncle John Turner built this hotel.

Robert Walpole served as Britain's first Prime Minister during the reigns of George I and II, significantly influencing the development of the office and parliamentary system. He was also a long-serving Member of Parliament for King's Lynn, a key port at the time, and is remembered for his political longevity and skill in maintaining power through consensus-building and management of parliamentary majorities.