A man named Mr. Chicken was the last private resident of No. 10 Downing Street who moved out in the early 1730s. No other information, aside from the peculiar name, is available about the early resident of this famous address where many British leaders took their most important decisions.
No. 10 Downing Street in England, named after the diplomat and spy master George Downing, became the residence of the First Lord of Treasury in 1735. The First Lord of Treasury in the British government is usually the prime minister. 10 Downing Street serves as a home, an office and the locale for official receptions. Built by George Downing as a property investment, the building was later expanded. It was combined with another building and received additional rooms over the years. It is a common misconception that 10 Downing Street is the home of the prime minister. It's actually home to the First Lord of Treasury, who just happens to be the prime minister.
Sir Robert Walpole was the first, First Lord of Treasury, who resided at the address between 1735–1742. King George II had presented the house to Sir Robert Walpole as a personal gift, but the latter preferred that the property be made available to all those who held the position in the future.
More about 10 Downing Street:
- No. 10 Downing Street was not always an impressive building. Churchill had described it as "shaky and lightly built."
- The front door of 10 Downing Street has no handle on the outside.
- Larry, the cat, who resides at 10 Downing Street was given the official title "Chief Mouser" in 2011.