Editing Robert Walpole (section)

==Early life ==
Walpole was born in [[Houghton, Norfolk]], in 1676. One of 19&nbsp;children, he was the third son and fifth child of [[Robert Walpole (1650–1700)|Robert Walpole]], a member of the local gentry and a Whig politician who represented the borough of [[Castle Rising]] in the [[House of Commons of England|House of Commons]]. His wife Mary Burwell was the daughter and heiress of Sir Geoffrey Burwell of [[Rougham, Suffolk]]. [[Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole]], was his younger brother.{{sfnp|Leadam|1899|pp=178–179}}

As a child, Walpole attended a private school at [[Great Massingham|Massingham, Norfolk]].{{sfnp|Leadam|1899|p=179}} Walpole entered [[Eton College]] in 1690{{sfnp|ACAD|WLPL695R}} where he was a [[King's Scholar#King's Scholars at Eton College|King's Scholar]].<ref>{{cite episode |series=The Prime Minister at 300 |number=1 |network=[[BBC Radio 4]] |people=[[Sir Anthony Seldon]] (programme by) |date=2 April 2021}}</ref> He left Eton on 2&nbsp;April 1696{{sfnp|Leadam|1899|p=179}} and matriculated at [[King's College, Cambridge]], on the same day.{{sfnp|ACAD|WLPL695R}} On 25&nbsp;May 1698, he left Cambridge after the death of his only remaining older brother, Edward, so that he could help his father administer the family estate to which he had become the heir. Walpole had planned to become a clergyman but as he was now the eldest surviving son in the family, he abandoned the idea. In November&nbsp;1700 his father died, and Robert succeeded to inherit the [[Walpole family|Walpole estate]]. A paper in his father's handwriting, dated 9&nbsp;June 1700, shows the family estate in Norfolk and Suffolk to have been nine manors in Norfolk and one in Suffolk.{{sfnp|Leadam|1899|p=180}}

=== Business success ===
As a young man, Walpole had bought [[Share (finance)|shares]] in the [[South Sea Company]], which monopolised trade with Spain, the Caribbean, and South America. The speculative market for slaves, rum, and mahogany spawned a frenzy that had ramifications throughout Europe when it collapsed. However, Walpole had bought at the bottom and sold at the top, adding greatly to his inherited wealth and allowing him to create [[Houghton Hall]] as seen today.<ref name=Glentzer-2014-06-20>{{cite news |last=Glentzer |first=Molly |date=20 June 2014 |title='Houghton Hall' peeks at a real 'Downton Abbey' |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/arts-theater/article/Houghton-Hall-peeks-at-a-real-Downton-Abbey-5568249.php |access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>{{efn|
As a young man, Sir Robert bought shares of the South Seas Co., which monopolized trade with Spain, the Caribbean, and South America. The speculative market for slaves, rum, and mahogany spawned a frenzy that had ramifications throughout Europe when it collapsed. "But Walpole bought at the bottom and sold at the top," Tinterow said. That fortune enabled him to build Houghton.<ref name=Glentzer-2014-06-20/>
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