Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Jenkinson, Charles

English politician; was private secretary to Lord Bute when he was the English premier, and, when he resigned, Jenkinson became the principal secretary of the treasury. He was an Oxford scholar, and, becoming personally acquainted with George III., when he was Prince of Wales, became devoted to his service. He had great tact in dealing with delicate personal matters, and so was fitted to please all; or, rather, not to offend any. He was chiefly instrumental in pushing forward the English ministry in their schemes for taxing the English-American colonists, and was really the author of Townshend's obnoxious bills and Grenville's Stamp Act. He held a place with Lord North at the Treasury board, in 1768, and was the chief instigator of that minister's bills for asserting the absolute authority of the Parliament over the American colonies.