Whigs and Tories, 1709–1712

This chapter considers political affairs during the administration of Thomas, Lord Wharton, the whig partisan who was lord lieutenant from 1708 to 1710, and that of his successor, the tory, James Butler, 2nd duke of Ormonde. In the absence of significant divisions between the parties in the Irish parliament on fundamental issues such as Protestant dissent, the political sympathies of MPs were evident through their support, or hostility, towards the executive at various times. Meanwhile, in convocation the Anglican clergy grew increasingly restless with Wharton’s administration. This was reflected in an outpouring of tory print after 1711. This chapter argues that by 1711 there were signs that Irish publishers were more willing to involve themselves in the publication of divisive ideas and opinions and to use party labels when discussing Irish political affairs.