A British Chancellor of the Exchequer, responsible for instigating a series of acts in 1767 that levied duties on various imported goods to the American colonies, including tea, glass, and paper. The purpose of these measures was to generate revenue from the colonies to offset the costs of administering and defending the British Empire in North America. These acts, known collectively by his name, represented a shift in British policy towards more direct taxation of the colonies.
The significance of these revenue-generating measures lies in their contribution to the escalating tensions between Great Britain and its American colonies. Unlike previous taxes that regulated trade, these were explicitly designed to raise money. Colonial resistance, fueled by principles of “no taxation without representation,” intensified through boycotts, protests, and organized opposition, ultimately contributing to the growing sentiment for independence. The policies enacted under his leadership exacerbated the financial strain on colonists, leading to increased smuggling and a growing sense of grievance against British authority.
