罗伯特·沃波尔，第一任奥福德伯爵(RobertWalpole,1stEarlofOrford,)，英国政治家，英国首相。

　　任期1721年4月4日–1742年2月11日

　　前任首相无

　　继任首相威尔明顿伯爵

　　出生日期1676年8月26日

　　出生地点诺福克郡

　　去世日期1745年3月18日

　　去世地点英国伦敦

　　所属党派:辉格党

　　一般认为，罗伯特·沃波尔是第一任英国首相。虽然当时内阁制没有建立，在法律上难以得到公认，但是以沃波尔在议会中的影响程度，完全可以胜任组建一个真正的政府。

　　罗伯特·沃波尔是一名辉格党成员。从政期间，正值乔治一世和乔治二世统治时期。通常认为，沃波尔于1721年担任首席财务大臣时就开始了他的首相任期，但也有从1730年起异说。不管怎样，沃波尔在内阁中是一名无可非议的唯一领导者。直至1742年因失去议会的信任而辞职。

　　SirRobertWalpole(1676-1745)

　　PortraitofSirRobertWalpolebyArthurPond©WalpolewasaBritishWhigstatesman,consideredtothefirstprimeminister,whodominatedpoliticsinthereignsofGeorgeIandGeorgeII.

　　RobertWalpolewasbornon26August1676inHoughton,Norfolkintoawealthylandowningfamily.HewaseducatedatCambridgeUniversityandin1701becameMPforCastleRisinginNorfolk,wherehisfatherhadpreviouslybeenMP.Heroserapidly,becomingamemberoftheAdmiraltyBoard,secretaryofwarand,in1709,treasurerofthenavy.HisrisewastemporarilyhaltedbytheTories,whocameintopowerin1710.In1712theyaccusedhimofcorruptionandhewasbrieflyimprisoned.

　　In1714,GeorgeIcametothethrone.HedistrustedtheTories,whomhebelievedopposedhisrighttothethrone,andasaresulttheWhigswereintheascendantagain.In1715,Walpolebecamefirstlordofthetreasuryandchancelloroftheexchequer.Heresignedin1717afterdisagreementswithinhispartybutin1720wasmadepaymastergeneral.HeavoidedthescandalthatsurroundedthecollapseoftheSouthSeaCompanyandwassubsequentlyappointedfirstlordofthetreasuryandchancelloroftheexchequer.Inthispositionheeffectivelybecameprimeminister,althoughthetermwasnotusedatthetime.Heremainedinthispositionofdominanceuntil1742.

　　WalpoleconsolidatedWhigpowerthroughasystemofroyalpatronage.Hepursuedapolicyofpeaceabroad,lowtaxationandreducingthenationaldebtandheknewtheimportanceofkeepingparliamentonhisside.Hewasalsoaccusedofbriberyandcorruptioninhiseffortstoretainpower.AfterGeorgeI'sdeathin1727,WalpolewasbrieflysupersededbyGeorgeII'sfavourite,SpencerComptonbutsucceededinreturninghimselftofavour,partlythroughthesupportofthenewqueen,Caroline.In1735,GeorgeIImadeWalpoleagiftof10DowningStreet,nowthepermanentLondonresidenceoftheBritishprimeminister.

　　OppositionbegantodevelopwithinWalpole'sownparty,andatradedisputewithSpainwasusedbyhiscriticstoforcehimtodeclarewarin1739,knownastheWarofJenkins'Ear.Apoorgeneralelectionresultin1741madehispositionmoreunstable.AnumberofWhigpoliticiansopposedWalpole'sconductofthewarandheresignedinFebruary1742.HewascreatedearlofOrfordinthesameyearandcontinuedtomaintaininfluenceoverGeorgeII.Walpolediedon18March1745.