Final answer:
The correct answer is option A) Sir Robert Walpole.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who served as the Speaker of the House of Commons and later became the British Prime Minister in the early 1700s was Sir Robert Walpole. Known as the first de facto Prime Minister of Great Britain, Walpole's influence extended to various aspects of British policy, including the approach towards the American colonies.
As the architect of what is known as salutary neglect, he believed that the colonies would be more productive if they were left to their own devices, rather than being strictly controlled by Parliamentary restrictions. This policy contributed to the flowering of colonial autonomy until shifts in British imperial strategy ushered in greater control and taxation, leading to tensions and ultimately the American Revolution.