Born the "spare" second son of Baron Pelham, Henry watched his brother bask in the glow of wealth and titles. With the seat in Parliament his brother bought for him, Henry found his own voice, teamed up with Robert Walpole, and zoomed up the political ranks. Stepping out from his sibling's shadow, Henry Pelham soon stood tall as Britain’s third Prime Minister. Recorded on location at the Pelham Public Library in Pelham, Massachusetts.

From his humble birth in the Compton family castle, Spencer Compton rose to become a "dull, important Lord" in Parliament. Walpole out-maneuvered in 1727 to steal the top job from him, but Spencer Compton, the Earl of Wilmington, would get his revenge and (eventually) become Prime Minister. Recorded on location at the Wilmington Memorial Library in Wilmington, Massachusetts.

Our first rating! We discuss how Robert Walpole rose from the disaster of the South Sea Company bubble to control all the levers of power in Parliament, his near-loss to Spencer Compton after the death of George I, and his eventual decline and defeat thanks to a disagreement with Spain over a severed left ear. Recorded on location in Walpole, Massachusetts in the Stone Room at the Walpole Public Library.