Author Archives: salmonphilip

Floods, Plagues and the Second Coming: Charles Augustus Tulk MP

Posted on March 23, 2020

Apocalyptic end days, doomsday scenarios and final judgements were prominent features of many people’s religious beliefs in the 19th century, but a few went further, maintaining that the Second Coming had already taken place. Among them was our MP of … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, MP of the Month, religion | Leave a comment

Sir Robert Peel and the modern Conservative party

Posted on February 5, 2020

Today (5 Feb) marks the birthday of Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850), the 19th century prime minister traditionally credited with founding the modern Conservative party. Peel is also subject of a new BBC ‘Prime Properties’ episode – click here to view … Continue reading →

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Happy New Year from the Victorian Commons!

Posted on January 2, 2020

For eight years now we have been marking the new year with some highlights from the previous 12 months. The events of 2019 certainly focused attention on parliamentary history and the UK’s constitutional practices as never before. Taking our cue … Continue reading →

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MP of the Month: Thomas Neville Abdy (1810-1877) and electoral misconduct

Posted on November 25, 2019

Thomas Abdy’s political career provides a useful reminder of the chicanery, lies and corruption sometimes associated with 19th century English electioneering – venal traditions that became increasingly unacceptable during the Victorian era. Born into a naval family – his father … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Constituencies, Corruption, Elections, MP of the Month, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

MP of the Month: Sidney Herbert – still dancing to Nightingale’s tune

Posted on September 16, 2019

September’s MP of the Month is Sidney Herbert, who was born on this day (16 September) in 1810 and widely expected to become a Victorian prime minister. Fate, however, cruelly intervened, as Dr Ruscombe Foster, the author of an important … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Guest blog, MP of the Month | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Political Prorogations: a view from the Victorian Commons

Posted on September 4, 2019

It’s been a long time since the business of suspending Parliament and starting a new session has generated so much political controversy. Throughout most of the 20th century prorogations invariably tallied with the expectations of most parliamentarians, neatly book-ending a … Continue reading →

Posted in Parliamentary life, Prime Ministers, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ Thomas Jones Phillips (1790-1843): pioneering Tory election agent

Posted on August 6, 2019

If you think some of the recent electioneering tactics that have hit the headlines seem extraordinary, spare a thought for the voters of Monmouth in the 1830s. As a new episode of the BBC’s ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Constituencies, Elections, Wales | Tagged , | 5 Comments