<P> The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the head of the Government of the United Kingdom , and chairs Cabinet meetings . There is no specific date when the office of Prime Minister first appeared , as the role was not created but rather evolved over a period of time through merger of duties . The term was used in the House of Commons in 1805 , and it was certainly in parliamentary use by the 1880s . In 1905 the post of Prime Minister was officially given recognition in the order of precedence . Modern historians generally consider Sir Robert Walpole , who led the government of Great Britain from 1721 to 1742 , as the first Prime Minister . Walpole is also the longest - serving Prime Minister by this definition . However , Sir Henry Campbell - Bannerman was the first Prime Minister and Margaret Thatcher the longest - serving Prime Minister to have been officially referred to as such . </P>
<P> The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the head of the Government of the United Kingdom , and chairs Cabinet meetings . There is no specific date when the office of Prime Minister first appeared , as the role was not created but rather evolved over a period of time through merger of duties . The term was used in the House of Commons in 1805 , and it was certainly in parliamentary use by the 1880s . In 1905 the post of Prime Minister was officially given recognition in the order of precedence . Modern historians generally consider Sir Robert Walpole , who led the government of Great Britain from 1721 to 1742 , as the first Prime Minister . Walpole is also the longest - serving Prime Minister by this definition . However , Sir Henry Campbell - Bannerman was the first Prime Minister and Margaret Thatcher the longest - serving Prime Minister to have been officially referred to as such . </P>
who was the first elected prime minister of britain
who was the first elected prime minister of britain
Sir Robert Walpole
Sir Robert Walpole