Author: clittleton6c6ff85dd9

Senior Research Associate in the House of Lords, 1715-90 section of the History of Parliament Trust. Writer on 18th-century political history and the aristocracy.
Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Constituencies, Elections, Factions, George I, George II, Georgian, Local History, Parties, Robert Walpole

One half of ‘all England’? Yorkshire elections in the 18th century

The elections of May 2026 in England, Scotland and Wales provide another opportunity to consider some of the features of parliamentary elections in the unreformed 18th century. Here Dr Charles Littleton looks at one of the period’s more notable constituencies and one particularly turbulent contest there. Between 1715 and 1832 there were 22 general elections. Attention to these is usually most focussed on some of … Continue reading One half of ‘all England’? Yorkshire elections in the 18th century

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Factions, Georgian, Parliamentary Life, Parties

‘You have this day lost an agreeable entertainment in the House of Lords’: Dr John Savage, Lord Cowper’s personal parliamentary reporter

We are so used to continuous coverage of Parliament that it is easy to forget that during most of the 18th century debates in Parliament could not be made public. So how did those interested, and even engaged, in proceedings in the 18th-century Parliament know what was actually happening there? Many relied on newsletter-writers and agents, but in this latest post for the Georgian Lords, … Continue reading ‘You have this day lost an agreeable entertainment in the House of Lords’: Dr John Savage, Lord Cowper’s personal parliamentary reporter

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Diplomacy and International Relations, Frederick North, 2nd earl of Guilford, George II, George III, Georgian, History of Parliament Trust, Military history

Putting ‘spirit in the conduct of the war’: the November 1775 government reshuffle

In his last post for the Georgian Lords, From bills to bullets: Spring 1775 and the approach to war in America, on the advent of the American War of Independence, Dr Charles Littleton left things hanging with the prorogation on 26 May 1775. Now, he continues the story into the autumn with the declaration of war and a key government reshuffle. Following the prorogation of … Continue reading Putting ‘spirit in the conduct of the war’: the November 1775 government reshuffle

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Georgian, 18th Century history, Diplomacy and International Relations, Frederick North, 2nd earl of Guilford, George III, Georgian Lords, Military history, Parties

From bills to bullets: Spring 1775 and the approach to war in America

A recent article in this series [Background to the American Revolution] looked at the debates in the House of Lords in early February 1775 on a bill for conciliation with the American colonies. After its rejection the imperial crisis continued to occupy the House’s attention. In the latest post for the Georgian Lords, Dr Charles Littleton considers the debates and divisions occasioned by the addresses, … Continue reading From bills to bullets: Spring 1775 and the approach to war in America

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Portrait of a young man with dark hair wearing 18th-century clothing, a dark coat and a buff waistcoat
History of Parliament Trust, 18th Century history, Elections, Factions, George III, Georgian, Georgian Lords, Military history, Parties, Scottish History, Social history

Robert Burns in Edinburgh: peers, patrons, and politics

In the wake of Burns Night, it is worth considering how the patronage of a small number of Scottish nobles helped Robert Burns become established as the national bard. In his latest piece for the Georgian Lords, Dr Charles Littleton, considers the important role played by a clutch of elite Scots families. Burns first published his Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, in Kilmarnock in … Continue reading Robert Burns in Edinburgh: peers, patrons, and politics

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Georgian Lords, 17th Century history, 18th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, Economic history, Military history, Social history

‘The most surprising instance of a change of fortune raised by a man himself’: the case of James Brydges, 1st duke of Chandos

In the latest blog for the Georgian Lords, Dr Charles Littleton, considers the career of the 1st duke of Chandos, a man who rose to become one of the most flamboyant peers of the early 18th century and a key patron of the composer, Handel. Last month saw the 280th anniversary of the death of an intriguing and, in his time, prominent 18th-century aristocrat. Intriguing, … Continue reading ‘The most surprising instance of a change of fortune raised by a man himself’: the case of James Brydges, 1st duke of Chandos

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Economic history, Georgian

‘A very good bed for old courtiers to rest in’: The 18th-century Post Office and its Postmasters-General

Much attention has concentrated recently on the scandal surrounding the Post Office’s prosecutions of numerous sub-postmasters and -mistresses. The 18th-century Post Office was established and run on very different lines than that of today, but as Dr Charles Littleton shows, it too was not immune from scandal, parliamentary scrutiny, or partisan politics. The Post Office Act of 1711 had established a single Post Office for … Continue reading ‘A very good bed for old courtiers to rest in’: The 18th-century Post Office and its Postmasters-General

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Factions, Georgian, Local History, Military history, Social history

Loud enough to wake the dead? Fireworks and celebration in the mid-18th century

With Guy Fawkes night almost upon us, we can expect to see and hear fireworks going off all across the country. A previous blog showed how throughout the late 17th century, fireworks and bonfires were used to mark the momentous events of the Glorious Revolution and William III’s wars with France. [Making ‘night like day’] As Dr Charles Littleton shows, that tradition continued into the … Continue reading Loud enough to wake the dead? Fireworks and celebration in the mid-18th century

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Elections, Local History, Parties, Social history

‘Kind patron of the mirthful fray’: the English aristocracy and cricket in the 18th century

The Ashes Test series currently under way provides an opportunity to consider the English aristocracy’s role in cricket’s early development in the 18th century. In this blog for the Georgian Lords Dr Charles Littleton looks back at some of the early developers of the game. Foremost among cricket’s early patrons (according to rank) was the heir to the throne, Frederick, Prince of Wales. Within three … Continue reading ‘Kind patron of the mirthful fray’: the English aristocracy and cricket in the 18th century

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, George II, Georgian, History of Parliament Trust

‘The most solemn, magnificent, and sumptuous ceremony’: The coronation of George II and Queen Caroline, 11 October 1727

Contemporaries were agreed that the coronation of George II and Queen Caroline on 11 October 1727 was spectacular. In our second Coronation-themed blog, Dr Charles Littleton looks back on the event and considers the roles played by some of those involved in it. For the Swiss traveller César de Saussure the coronation of 1727 was ’the most solemn, magnificent, and sumptuous ceremony it is anyone’s … Continue reading ‘The most solemn, magnificent, and sumptuous ceremony’: The coronation of George II and Queen Caroline, 11 October 1727

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