Wall Ministry

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The Wall Ministry was a Spanish government headed by Ricardo Wall which served between 15 May 1754 to 9 October 1763 during the reigns of Ferdinand VI and Charles III.

Ricardo Wall Ricardo Wall.jpg
Ricardo Wall

Wall came to power by thwarting the ambitions of his rival the Marquis of Ensenada. While Ensenada was pro-French and wanted to build an alliance with France to destroy British naval power, the Irish-descended Wall was supposed to be an Anglophile and his government steered Spain towards neutrality and friendly relations with Britain.

When the Seven Years' War broke out, Spain did not join with its traditional ally France but maintained a strict neutrality. However, when Charles III took the throne in 1759 he wanted to pursue a more pro-French policy, while retaining the popular and experienced Wall as Chief Minister. By the end of 1761 Spain was at war with Britain which had, as Wall had predicted, disastrous consequences for the Spanish who suffered a number of embarrassing military defeats to British forces (La Havana and Manila). He stepped down in 1763 following the Treaty of Paris, handing over power to Jerónimo Grimaldi.

Cabinet

15 May 1754 – 9 October 1763
PortfolioImageHolderTerm
First Secretary of State (PM) Ricardo Wall.jpg Ricardo Wall 15 May 1754 – 9 October 1763
Secretary of State for the Indies 22 July – 20 August 1754
Secretary of State for War 21 June 1759 – 1 September 1763
Virrey Sebastian de Eslava.jpg Sebastián de Eslava 22 July 1754 – 21 June 1759
Giuseppe bonito-esquilache.jpg Marquess of Esquilache 1 September – 9 October 1763
Secretary of State for the Treasury 8 December 1759 – 9 October 1763
Count of Valdeparaíso 22 July 1754 – 8 December 1759
Zenon de Somodevilla y Bengoechea, Marquis de Ensenada (ca. 1750) - Jacopo Amigoni (Museo El Prado).jpg 15 May – 22 July 1754
Secretary of State for War Marquess of Ensenada
Secretary of State for the Navy and the Indies
Secretary of State for Grace and Justice Alonso Muñiz y Caso Osorio15 May 1754 – 9 October 1763
Secretary of State for the Navy Julián de Arriaga y Ribera22 July 1754 – 9 October 1763
Secretary of State for the Indies 20 August 1754 – 9 October 1763

Bibliography