Three historians who lecture at the University of Huddersfield, one who lectured at the Huddersfield Polytechnic, before it became a university, one from the University of Nottingham, and one school teacher profile 198 people who filled the top four offices of the British state and the post of secretary of state for the colonies between 1730 and the preset. The articles are arranged in alphabetical order by birth name or title according to which is best known. Though the names of the four offices-prime minister, foreign secretary, home secretary, and chancellor of the exchequer-have evolved over the period, the names are used throughout to provide historical continuity. Cross-references, a general and entry-specific bibliographies, chronological lists, and a subject index are also included.