1715. Oxford, Bolingbroke, and Ormond impeached for their conduct in negotiating the Peace of Utrecht. The first was committed to the Tower; the other two escaped to the Continent, and were attainted. _Riot Act_ passed. REBELLION IN SCOTLAND, in behalf of the Pretender (son of James II.), headed by the earl of Mar. Battle of SHERIFFMUIR, Perthshire (Nov. 13), in which the royalists gained a slight advantage. The Pretender landed at Peterhead (Dec.), but, finding his cause hopeless, he re-embarked (Feb., 1716). 1716. The earls of Derwentwater and Kenmure, two of the rebels, executed. _SEPTENNIAL BILL_ passed for extending the duration of parliaments from three to seven years. General Stanhope (afterwards created earl) and the earl of Sunderland became chief ministers of the crown. 1718. ~Quadruple Alliance~ between England, France, the emperor, and Holland, to resist the aggressive policy of Cardinal Alberoni, the chief minister of Spain. Sir George Byng defeated the Spanish fleet off CAPE PASSARO, in Sicily (Aug. 11). 1720. The South Sea Company was invested with certain exclusive commercial privileges, and authorized to take up the whole of the National Debt, so as to become the sole public creditor. 1721. Robert Walpole and Lord Townshend became the king's principal ministers. The £100 shares of the company, by fraudulent means, were raised to more than £1000; but the bubble soon burst, and ruined thousands of families. The financial credit of the nation was restored by the judicious measures of Robert Walpole. 1723. Atterbury, bishop of Rochester, banished for taking part in a Jacobite conspiracy. Bolingbroke allowed to return. 1725. The earl of Macclesfield, lord chancellor, impeached for selling offices in Chancery, and misappropriating the money of suitors, widows, and orphans. He was convicted, and fined £30,000. 1727. The Spaniards besieged Gibraltar, but abandoned the enterprise after it had lasted four months. GEORGE II. =D.= He was the son of George I. =B.= at Hanover, 1683. =M.= Caroline, of Anspach. =Dd.= at Kensington, Oct 25, 1760. =R.= 33-1/4 years (1727 to 1760). 1730. Sir Robert Walpole became supreme in the government. 1733. Excise bill introduced, but abandoned on account of the violent opposition which it experienced. 1739. War with Spain. PORTO BELLO, on the Isthmus of Darien, taken by Admiral Vernon. 1741. Frederick, king of Prussia, invaded Silesia, and thus arose a war with the empress. 1742. Resignation of Walpole. The earl of Bath and Lord Carteret became chief ministers. England espoused the cause of the empress against Prussia; the latter was aided by France. 1743. George II. defeated the French at DETTINGEN, in Bavaria (June 27). 1744. France declared war against Great Britain. Anson returned from his voyage round the world, during which he inflicted great damage on the Spaniards. Coalition ministry, of which Henry Pelham was head.