Category Archives: Biographies

Mental illness on trial: Henry Meux’s commission of lunacy and the 1857 general election

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Martin Spychal

This month our research fellow, Dr Martin Spychal, discusses the 1858 ‘commission of lunacy’ on the Hertfordshire MP, Henry Meux (pronounced “Mews”). Much of the trial centred around events in Hertfordshire during the 1857 general election, where Meux was elected … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“An upholder of the old liberal opinions”: the political career of Charles Owen O’Conor, the O’Conor Don (1838-1906)

Posted on December 14, 2022 by Kathryn Rix

This guest blog comes from Dr. Aidan Enright, of Leeds Beckett University, who has recently published a book on the O’Conor Don’s political career, and who has also written the biographical article on the O’Conor Don for our 1832-68 House … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Guest blog, Ireland | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

‘Standing between two extremes’: James Wentworth Buller MP and the politics of moderation

Posted on March 3, 2022 by salmonphilip

The development of a more rigid party system has been a recurrent theme in many of our blogs about Victorian politics, including this one about ‘Defying the Whip‘. Few MPs, however, had their political careers destroyed and then resurrected quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, party labels | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

From colonial council to Parliament: the career of John Dunn MP

Posted on November 19, 2021 by salmonphilip

How Victorian Britain exported a Westminster system of politics to its colonies, both in terms of parliamentary structures and personnel, has been a recurrent theme of much recent historical work. Our own project has also helped shed new light on … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Constituencies, Elections | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The queen and the chemist’s son: Matthew Wood MP and the radical defence of Queen Caroline

Posted on June 2, 2021 by Martin Spychal

Matthew Wood (1768-1843) represented London as a radical reformer between 1817 and 1843. From 1832 he was a committed advocate of metropolitan legislation and an active figure in the committee corridors. As a founding member, and landlord, of the short-lived … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, women | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

From typhus to trains: the tragic deaths of 19th century MPs

Posted on February 23, 2021 by Kathryn Rix

The biographical format we follow when writing about the 2,591 MPs covered by our 1832-68 project means that we usually have one obvious finishing point: the MP’s death. As we have noted before in our blog on political longevity, many … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Had she been a man, she would have been the leader of a party’: Harriet Grote (1792-1878), radicalism and Parliament, 1820-41

Posted on January 4, 2021 by Martin Spychal

In the first of his blogs on Harriet Grote (1792-1878), our research fellow Dr Martin Spychal, explores Harriet’s early life, her emergence as a central figure among London’s intellectual radicals during the 1820s and her arrival on the Westminster political … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Harriet Grote, women | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Elected without his consent: William Wilshere (1804-67) and the venal electors of Great Yarmouth

Posted on December 16, 2020 by salmonphilip

The huge financial cost of Victorian elections, especially in venal constituencies, has been a recurrent theme in some of our more recent blogs. It’s tempting to think of the MPs associated with bribery, treating and other forms of electoral corruption … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Constituencies, Corruption, Elections, Images of MPs, MP of the Month | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

MP of the Month: Alfred Rhodes Bristow (1818-1875)

Posted on November 25, 2020 by sball1832

By the 1850s a seat in Parliament was proving a useful career path for men of relatively humble means to achieve substantial professional advancement. A prime example was our MP of Month, Alfred Rhodes Bristow. The son of a Greenwich … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, MP of the Month | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

‘Highly respected in Parliamentary circles’: Thomas Greene (1794-1872)

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Kathryn Rix

Our MP of the Month Thomas Greene (1794-1872) represented his Lancaster constituency for more than three decades. As a well-respected back bench MP, he made an important contribution to parliamentary business behind the scenes, and served as chairman of ways … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, MP of the Month, Parliamentary buildings | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916): the social life of a queer MP at the time of the Second Reform Act

Posted on October 21, 2020 by Martin Spychal

In the second of his blog series on Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916), Dr Martin Spychal explores Gower’s London social life during his first year in Parliament, including a brief summer romance with the son of the commissioner of the Metropolitan … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, LGBT+ History Month, Parliamentary life, Queer Parliamentary Life, Ronald Gower Series | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Representing Glamorgan, 1832-85: Mr. Talbot and his colleagues

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Kathryn Rix

This post originally appeared on the History of Parliament’s blog as part of a Local History series on Glamorgan and Monmouthshire. The earlier posts in the series looked at elections in the 1640s and the 18th century. In the 19th … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Elections, Wales | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

‘A strenuous and able Reformer’: Dr Stephen Lushington (1782-1873)

Posted on September 17, 2020 by Martin Spychal

This month we take a look at Dr Stephen Lushington (1782-1873). One of six anti-slavery campaigners whose names are inscribed on the Buxton Memorial Fountain in London, Lushington famously served as Queen Caroline’s legal counsel in 1820. As MP for … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, MP of the Month | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

MP of the Month: Thomas Barrett Lennard (1788-1856)

Posted on August 25, 2020 by salmonphilip

Thomas Barrett Lennard‘s career neatly captures some of the oddities and contradictions of early Victorian politics, especially the survival of older attitudes and beliefs alongside the emergence of more ‘modern’ progressive ideas. Lennard’s campaign to abolish the death penalty for … Continue reading →

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

MP of the Month: Nicholas Aylward Vigors (1785-1840), soldier, scientist and politician

Posted on July 10, 2020 by sball1832

Like many of our MPs, Nicholas Vigors had a varied career, as a soldier, landowner, politician and eminent zoologist. Although best known as a founder and secretary of the Zoological Society of London, Vigors also enjoyed a lively career as … Continue reading →

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

The MP who founded a town: Sir Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood (1801-66)

Posted on April 15, 2020 by Kathryn Rix

Over the past few years, we have highlighted several MPs who, quite apart from their involvement in parliamentary debates and legislation, had a significant personal role in the development of the infrastructure of Victorian Britain. Previous MPs of the Month … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, MP of the Month, party labels | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted on March 23, 2020 by salmonphilip

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 | 2 Comments

MP of the Month: William Nugent Macnamara (1776-1856)

Posted on February 27, 2020 by sball1832

By the time he retired from the House of Commons in 1852 William Nugent Macnamara, the long-serving MP for County Clare, was in his late seventies and had taken no practical part in parliamentary business for the previous three years. … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Ireland, MP of the Month | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

From celebrity to outcast: William Bankes MP (1786-1855)

Posted on February 21, 2020 by Kathryn Rix

Originally posted on The History of Parliament:
Today’s blog is the second of three posts to celebrate LGBT+ History Month. In this blog we hear from Dr Philip Salmon, Editor of the House of Commons 1832-1868 project, about William Bankes…

Posted in Biographies, LGBT+ History Month | Leave a comment

Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916): the life of a queer MP at the time of the Second Reform Act

Posted on February 19, 2020 by Martin Spychal

Dr Martin Spychal introduces his new series of blogs for the Victorian Commons on Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916), who was elected as MP for Sutherland in 1867. Born into ‘the inner circle of English aristocratic life’, Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916) … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, LGBT+ History Month, Queer Parliamentary Life, Ronald Gower Series, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Sir Robert Peel and the modern Conservative party

Posted on February 5, 2020 by salmonphilip

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 →

Posted in Biographies, Prime Ministers, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

From parliamentary reporter to Member of Parliament: Robert Spankie (1774-1842)

Posted on January 27, 2020 by Martin Spychal

January’s MP of the Month takes a look at the unusual pre-parliamentary career of Robert Spankie, who was returned for Finsbury in 1832. A ground-breaking parliamentary reporter during the 1790s, Spankie ascended to the editorship of the Morning Chronicle before re-training as a barrister and serving as a controversial advocate-general of Bengal. Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Elections, Empire, Images of MPs, MP of the Month, Parliamentary life, party labels, Scotland, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted on November 25, 2019 by salmonphilip

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 , , , | 1 Comment

MP of the Month: Charles Stanley Monck (1819-94) and Canadian Confederation

Posted on October 10, 2019 by sball1832

Today we mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Stanley Monck (1819-94), MP for Portsmouth, 1852-7, who in 1861 found himself at the head of Britain’s North American colonies at a turbulent time in their history. With a … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Empire, Ireland, MP of the Month | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted on September 16, 2019 by salmonphilip

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

MP of the Month: William Tooke and the royal charters of the University of London

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Martin Spychal

Following our blogs on the creation of the University of London constituency in 1868 and its first MP, Robert Lowe, August’s MP of the Month is William Tooke. As MP for Truro from 1832, Tooke worked tirelessly to secure a royal charter for the London University (later University College London) in order that it could grant degrees to its students. Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Constituencies, Elections, Legislation, MP of the Month, party labels, religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

MP of the Month: Edward Wyndham Harrington Schenley (1799-1878), Waterloo veteran and millionaire

Posted on June 18, 2019 by sball1832

Today we mark the anniversary of the Duke of Wellington’s victory over Napoleon at Waterloo by recalling the eventful life of the Dartmouth MP, Edward Schenley (1799-1878), who as a boy was severely wounded in that campaign, yet through his … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, MP of the Month | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

MP of the Month: John Fenton (1791-1863)

Posted on May 28, 2019 by Kathryn Rix

In 1832 John Fenton, a Nonconformist Whig from a local banking and textile manufacturing family, was elected as the first MP for his native Rochdale, which had been given a parliamentary seat by the 1832 Reform Act. He lost to … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, MP of the Month | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The representation of Devon and Cornwall after reform, 1832-68

Posted on May 17, 2019 by Martin Spychal

Last week the History of Parliament and the Devon and Cornwall Record Society hosted a conference at Exeter on ‘The South West and Parliament’. Dr Martin Spychal of the Victorian Commons spoke at the event, and today provides an overview of … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Conferences and seminars, Constituencies, Corruption, Elections, Parliamentary life, party labels, Uncategorized, Voting and Divisions, women, Working-class politics | 5 Comments

The Disruption, Parliament and Conservative division: Alexander Campbell (1811-1869)

Posted on April 16, 2019 by Martin Spychal

In May 1843 a schism in the Church of Scotland, better known as the Disruption, led to the creation of the evangelical Free Church of Scotland. It was the culmination of a decade-long conflict over the ability of parishioners to appoint their minister, and wider concerns over state interference with the Scottish Church. April’s MP of the Month is the Conservative MP for Argyllshire, Alexander Campbell, who was one of the founding elders of the Free Church. His ruthless electioneering in Argyllshire from 1836, eventual election in 1841, and failed legislative attempts to prevent the breakup of the Church placed the looming controversy at the centre of parliamentary politics. It also revealed irreconcilable differences between the Conservative Prime Minister Robert Peel and one of his few Scottish backbenchers. Continue reading →

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

Ethnic minorities in Parliament: a new addition to the Victorian Commons

Posted on April 8, 2019 by Kathryn Rix

In our research on the membership of the House of Commons between 1832 and 1868, we previously identified two non-white MPs: John Stewart, MP for Lymington, 1832-47, the illegitimate son of a West Indian plantation owner, who was probably of … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Guest blog | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

MP of the Month: Sir Charles Tilston Bright (1832-1888), pioneering telegraph engineer

Posted on February 20, 2019 by sball1832

An important aspect of our study of the reformed Commons is the degree to which representatives of science and industry were incorporated into the legislature during a period of great economic expansion. Our MP of the Month was among those … Continue reading →

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

Electoral malpractice and uncivil political speech: the case of Alfred Seymour MP

Posted on January 28, 2019 by salmonphilip

Our ‘MP of the Month’ blog highlights some themes still fresh in our minds after attending a conference on corruption at Oxford Brookes University. Alfred Seymour (1824-1888) was the younger brother of the better known archaeologist and explorer Henry Danby … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Conferences and seminars, Corruption, Elections, MP of the Month, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Innovation, corruption and bankruptcy: Charles John Mare (1814-1898)

Posted on December 13, 2018 by Martin Spychal

Charles John Mare (1814-1898) was an innovative East End shipbuilder. Thought to be a millionaire when he was returned for Plymouth in 1852, his election proved the apex of his career. He was unseated for bribery in 1853, and declared bankrupt, for the first of four times, in 1855. Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Corruption, Elections, Images of MPs, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Lord Derby, ‘centre’ parties and minority government

Posted on December 7, 2018 by salmonphilip

150 years ago the Conservative prime minister Lord Derby retired from office, having managed to pass one of the most significant constitutional reform packages of the 19th century – despite leading a minority government. This post examines the career of … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Forthcoming events, Prime Ministers | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

MP of the Month: George Williams (1765-1850) and Ashton-under-Lyne

Posted on November 28, 2018 by Kathryn Rix

In December 1832 the voters of Ashton-under-Lyne elected George Williams, ‘a Radical Reformer’, as the first MP for their newly enfranchised constituency. Born in Newfoundland, Williams had joined the British army in North America in 1777, aged just 12. After … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, MP of the Month | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

MP of the Month: Peter Rolt (1798-1882), the man who built HMS Warrior

Posted on October 29, 2018 by sball1832

A successful Deptford timber merchant, Peter Rolt rose to eminence as a dockyard contractor and became one of the greatest of London’s shipbuilders. He was elected as Conservative MP for Greenwich in 1852. An ebullient character who was known for … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, MP of the Month | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

MP of the Month: Josiah Wedgwood (1769-1843)

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Kathryn Rix

Our MP of the Month has a special significance for the History of Parliament Trust, being the great-grandfather (and namesake) of our founder, Josiah Wedgwood MP. This year the History of Parliament is marking the 75th anniversary of the death … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, MP of the Month | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

‘So much for the behaviour of the first assemblage of gentlemen’: views from parliament by a Devonshire Tory

Posted on August 16, 2018 by Martin Spychal

Our Victorian MP of the Month is the Conservative MP for Devonshire South, Montagu Parker. His correspondence with his mother between 1835 and 1841 provides a fascinating perspective on life at Westminster. Montagu Edmund Newcombe Parker (1807-1858) is best known … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Constituencies, Elections, MP of the Month, Parliamentary life, women | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Imagery and props: the Wellington boot, Disraeli’s novels and Gladstone’s axe

Posted on August 8, 2018 by Martin Spychal

Our research fellow Dr. Martin Spychal shares some insights from his work on the BBC Radio 4 series, Prime Ministers’ Props… I’ve recently been working with our former editorial board member, Professor Sir David Cannadine on the second series of … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Materiality, Prime Ministers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

MP of the Month: Henry Fawcett (1833-84)

Posted on July 19, 2018 by salmonphilip

Continuing our recent focus on the personalities and campaigns associated with ‘votes for women’, our MP of the Month highlights the remarkable career of Henry Fawcett, husband of the leading suffragist Millicent Fawcett (1847-1929), whose statue was unveiled in Parliament … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, MP of the Month, women | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

MP of the Month: The ‘strange career’ of John Townsend (1819-1892)

Posted on June 26, 2018 by sball1832

Once a successful auctioneer and undertaker, Townsend’s short and controversial parliamentary career as MP for Greenwich ended in 1859 after a protracted struggle to escape bankruptcy. His ‘strange career’ was, however, far from over and he subsequently found fame in … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, MP of the Month | Tagged , | 1 Comment

MP of the Month: John Barton Willis Fleming (1781-1844)

Posted on March 28, 2018 by salmonphilip

With modern electioneering tactics currently attracting so much scrutiny at home and abroad, our Victorian MP of the Month focuses on a notorious election fixer or ‘boroughmonger’, whose activities increasingly pushed the boundaries of acceptable behaviour. His refusal to answer … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Corruption, Elections, MP of the Month | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

MP of the Month: Andrew Carew O’Dwyer (1801-1877)

Posted on February 22, 2018 by sball1832

Many of our recent posts have focused on the way barriers to the franchise were gradually removed in the 19th century, but it is worth noting that there were also many barriers to becoming a Victorian MP. One of these … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Elections, Ireland, MP of the Month | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

MP of the Month: Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, Earl Grosvenor (1825-1899)

Posted on November 30, 2017 by salmonphilip

Continuing our celebration of the 150th anniversary of the 1867 Reform Act, November’s MP of the Month focuses on one of the most enigmatic figures in the reform crisis of 1866-67, the property-owning magnate and multi-millionaire Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, later … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Legislation, MP of the Month, Parliamentary life | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

MP of the Month: John Tomlinson Hibbert (1824-1908)

Posted on August 29, 2017 by Kathryn Rix

This month marks the 150th anniversary of the passing of the 1867 Reform Act. Introduced by Benjamin Disraeli and Lord Derby’s Conservative government, it added around a million voters to the register, primarily in borough constituencies. This greatly exceeded the … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Legislation, MP of the Month, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

MP of the Month: Sir Philip de Malpas Grey-Egerton (1806-81)

Posted on July 31, 2017 by salmonphilip

Many of our recent ‘MP of the Month’ posts have focused on self-made men from non-élite backgrounds. Their numbers on the back benches and contribution to the practical business of Parliament (especially in committee) grew dramatically during the Victorian era. … Continue reading →

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

‘The son of one of the best men who ever adorned the country’: William Wilberforce (1798-1879)

Posted on February 27, 2017 by Kathryn Rix

Trading heavily on his family name, William Wilberforce (1798-1879), eldest son and namesake of the noted anti-slave trade campaigner, was elected in 1837 as Conservative MP for Kingston-upon-Hull, which his father had represented from 1780 until 1784. During one election … Continue reading →

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

MP of the Month: From pot boy to parliamentarian – John Lloyd Davies (1801-60)

Posted on January 30, 2017 by sball1832

Of all the ‘self-made’ men who made the mid-nineteenth century House of Commons distinct from earlier periods, few can have begun life in such humble circumstances as John Lloyd Davies, MP for Cardigan Boroughs from 1855-7. The son of a … Continue reading →

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

MP of the Month: Charles Capper (1822-1869)

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Martin Spychal

Continuing with our recent theme of unlikely parliamentarians, our MP of the Month is Charles Capper, the son of a Manchester weaver. Capper made his fortune in the shipping industry, and wrote a notable history of the port of London, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1832-68 preview site, Biographies, MP of the Month, Working-class politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment