The House of Commons votes in January on the alleged rigging of the Chippenham by-election.

It becomes a motion of no confidence, which leads to the resignation of Robert Walpole, who on January 9 is made Earl of Orford and resigns as First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer, effectively ending his period as Prime Minister of Great Britain.

On his formally relinquishing office five days later, he will have served twenty years and three hundred and fourteen days as Prime Minister, the longest single term ever, and longer than the accumulated terms of any other British Prime Minister.