Robert Walpole
- "You are forgiven for not knowing who I am. I think, however, that you will know my name. It is Walpole. Sir Robert Walpole. I am the First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House of Commons."
- ―Robert Walpole introducing himself to Edward Kenway, 1723.[src]
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (1676 – 1745) was a British statesman who is generally regarded as the de facto first Prime Minister of Great Britain, serving from 1721 to 1742. With a tenure of over twenty years, he remains the longest-serving prime minister in the United Kingdom.
A well-connected man, Walpole was aware of the long-standing war between the Templars and the Assassins, though he was not part of either order, instead acting as a neutral party between the two.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Meeting Edward Kenway[edit | edit source]
In 1723, Walpole met with the Assassin Edward Kenway after the former pirate had seized the Charlotte, in an attempt to kill his old rival, Matthew Hague. Alongside Matthew's father Sir Aubrey Hague, a Templar, Walpole offered Edward and his crew pardons, new lives, and properties in exchange for Matthew's life, hoping to prevent "another act of barbarism".[1]
This was also a gesture of thanks to Edward for dealing with Walpole's cousin Duncan, a British Master Assassin who had betrayed the Brotherhood eight years prior and had been killed during a chance encounter with Edward. Walpole was of the opinion that Duncan's treason, motivated by his own financial gain, had brought dishonour to their family, and he was grateful to Edward for having killed his cousin.[1]
Ultimately, Edward accepted Walpole's proposal and spared Matthew Hague's life.[1] Following this success, Walpole helped Edward purchase a house in London, where the latter would spend the remainder of his life. He also introduced him to the Stephensen-Oakley family and was responsible for employing Edward's assistant, Reginald Birch.[2]
Granted 10 Downing Street[edit | edit source]
In 1732, King George II of Great Britain offered Walpole 10 Downing Street as a personal gift. Walpole accepted it on the condition that it be made the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, a secondary title held by British Prime Ministers.[3]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed III (first mentioned) (indirect mention only) (mentioned in Database entry only)
- Assassin's Creed: Forsaken (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Black Flag (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (mentioned in Database entry only)