Walpole's first friends were probably his cousins Francis and Henry Conway, to whom he became strongly attached, especially Henry. At Eton he formed a schoolboy confederacy, the "Triumvirate", with Charles Lyttelton (later an antiquary and bishop) and George Montagu (later a member of parliament and Private Secretary to Lord North). More important were another group of friends dubbed the "Quadruple Alliance": Walpole, Thomas Gray, Richard West, and Thomas Ashton.
walpole's first friends were probably his cousins francis and henry conway to whom he became strongly attached especially henry at eton he formed a schoolboy confederacy the "triumvirate" with charles lyttelton (later an antiquary and bishop) and george montagu (later a member of parliament and private secretary to lord north) more important were another group of friends dubbed the "quadruple alliance" walpole thomas gray richard west and thomas ashton