ideas were in some ways old-fashioned... He had long been interested in the way in which the empire might be a medium for British liberties, traditionally understood." He took the view that convicts should be given the chance to redeem themselves through self-government in penal colonies such as New South Wales. Governor Phillip's well-known statement that "There will be no slavery in a new country and hence no slaves" is an accurate reflection of Sydney's philosophy. Sydney's papers are held by the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan. Timeline 1733, 24 February: Born 1754: Entered the House of Commons as MP for Whitchurch, for 29 years until 1783 1756: Clerk of the household of the Prince of Wales 1760, 19 May: married Elizabeth Powys (b.1736 d.1826), later served as Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Charlotte 1761, 21 March: one of the clerks of the board of green cloth until he resigned in Dec. 1762 1765, 12 July: 4th Lord of the Treasury, under Lord John Cavendish, under William Dowdeswell (Chancellor of the Exchequer), under 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (1st Lord of the Treasury and Prime minister) 1766, 2 August: 3rd Lord of the Treasury, under Charles Townshend (Chancellor of the Exchequer), under Duke of Grafton (1st Lord of the Treasury) 1767, 23 December: Paymaster of the Forces under William Pitt (The Elder), until 1768 (June) 1767, 23 December: became a member of the Privy Council 1782, 30 March: Secretary at War under Rockingham's 2nd ministry, until 10 July 1782. 1782, 10 July: Leader of the House of Commons, under the Earl of Shelburne's ministry, until 2 April 1783. 1782, 10 July: Home Secretary (and Colonial Secretary), under Shelburne ministry, until 2 April 1783 1783, 6 March: Created Baron Sydney and entered the House of Lords. 1783, 23 December: Home Secretary (and Colonial Secretary) under William Pitt (The Younger), until 5 June 1789 1783: Leader of the House of Lords under Pitt (The Younger), until 1789 1784: First President of the Board of Control over the British East India Company, until 1790 1784: 5 March: President of the Committee on Trade and Foreign Plantations (equiv. to Secretary of State for Trade and Industry), until 1786 (23 Aug.) 1785: Sydney in (Cape Breton) Nova Scotia was named after him by Col J.F.W. DesBarres. 1788, 26 January: Sydney Cove in NSW, Australia named after him by Governor Arthur Philip