This change left powerful premiers to take on the role of government chief executive—for example, Robert Walpole (1721–42), who is generally considered Britain’s first prime minister, and William Pitt, the Younger (1783–1801; 1804–06). During their long tenures, the prime minister became the preeminent cabinet member, supervising and coordinating the work of every government department; other cabinet members were required to subscribe to the government’s official policy; and the prime minister was required to command a majority in the House of Commons—all characteristics shared by modern prime ministers.
The British government, however, was undeterred. at the time under an embargo of sorts, imposed by Britain, and with no tankers of its own-had limited options for the export of its oil. In the early months of 1952, tankers from Argentina and Japan voyaged and returned loaded with oil in disregard of the British embargo. Another tanker carried oil from Abadan to Venice. Churchill decided that the embargo needed to be enforced more stringently. In the month of June, a tanker, the Rose Mary, undertook an “experimental voyage”. It had been chartered by a private Italian oil company, and was to return with a cargo of oil.
