Author: History of Parliament

19th Century history, Irish History, Victorian, Victorian Commons

‘A kindhearted savage of a man’: Arthur Wills Blundell Sandys Trumbull Windsor Hill, Earl of Hillsborough (1812-68)

Today (6 August) marks the anniversary of both the birth and death of the Irish MP Arthur Wills Blundell Sandys Trumbull Windsor Hill, Earl of Hillsborough (and from 1845 Marquess of Downshire). Hillsborough‘s repeated physical altercations implicated him in two deaths and earned him a ferocious reputation, as this article from our House of Commons, 1832-1945 project explains. Hillsborough’s family (marquesses of Downshire) possessed large … Continue reading ‘A kindhearted savage of a man’: Arthur Wills Blundell Sandys Trumbull Windsor Hill, Earl of Hillsborough (1812-68)

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, George II, Georgian, Queen Anne

The Duke of Cambridge and the Hanoverian Succession, 1706-14

Early modern monarchs often were jealous of their heirs. In the early 18th century this was especially the case when the childless Queen Anne faced the prospect of seeing her crown pass to foreign cousins. In this article, marking the anniversary of Anne’s death and the accession of George I, we consider the manoeuvring around the creation of George’s heir as an English duke. The … Continue reading The Duke of Cambridge and the Hanoverian Succession, 1706-14

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Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Constituencies, Corruption, Elections, Georgian, Minority Ethnic History, Victorian

John Lewis: A Black Sailor at the 1828 Weymouth By-Election

In this guest article Dr Joe Cozens discusses his research into John Lewis, a Black sailor who was arrested during the 1828 Weymouth by-election. Dr Cozens is a Nineteenth Century Social and Political Records Researcher at The National Archives, Kew. On the eve of the February 1828 Weymouth and Melcombe Regis by-election, a Black seaman named John Lewis was arrested for being ‘at the head … Continue reading John Lewis: A Black Sailor at the 1828 Weymouth By-Election

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19th Century history, Art, Fashion and Material Culture, Victorian, Victorian Commons

John Bowes (1811-85): the MP and his museum

In this article Dr James Owen looks at the career of John Bowes (1811-85). Best known as an art collector and colliery owner, Bowes was MP for Durham South, 1832-47, but had a far greater impact outside Parliament than at Westminster, with one of his major legacies being the museum which bears his name. The Bowes Museum, situated in the historic market town of Barnard … Continue reading John Bowes (1811-85): the MP and his museum

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19th Century history, Conferences, Seminars and Events, Parliamentary Life, Victorian

Beyond the Census: John Rickman and Parliament

At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on 17 June 2025, Professor Julian Hoppit, Honorary Professor of British History at UCL, will be discussing John Rickman and his career in Parliament. The seminar takes place on 17 June 2025, between 5:30 and 6.30 p.m. It will be hosted online via Zoom. Details of how to join the discussion are available here. John Rickman (1771-1840) is best known … Continue reading Beyond the Census: John Rickman and Parliament

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Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Resources and Publications, Victorian

Richard Cobden’s letters: the human side

In this guest post, previously published on the Victorian Commons, Dr Helen Dampier, Leeds Beckett University, uses the groundbreaking Letters of Richard Cobden Online resource to explore the human side of Richard Cobden. Helen is a co-investigator for the project, which contains a searchable collection of digital transcripts of letters written by Cobden and a virtual exhibition of the original documents. The digital publication of c. … Continue reading Richard Cobden’s letters: the human side

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Modern, 20th century history, Conferences, Seminars and Events, Military history, Welsh History

The Recording Angel and the expression of English Welsh identities during the First World War

Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Professor Wendy Ugolini of the University of Edinburgh. On 3 June she will discuss The Recording Angel and the expression of English Welsh identities during the First World War. The seminar takes place on 3 June 2025, between 5:30 and 6.30 p.m. It is fully ‘hybrid’, which means you can attend either in-person … Continue reading The Recording Angel and the expression of English Welsh identities during the First World War

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Victorian, 18th Century history, 19th Century history, 20th century history, Conferences, Seminars and Events, Georgian, Modern

How did the routes of political processions and protest marches evolve in London during the nineteenth century?

At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on 20 May 2025, Professor Katrina Navickas of the University of Hertfordshire will be discussing ‘The development of political processions and protest marches in London, 1780-1939’. The seminar takes place on 20 May 2025, between 5:30 and 6.30 p.m. It will be hosted online via Zoom. Details of how to join the discussion are available here. Protest marches in … Continue reading How did the routes of political processions and protest marches evolve in London during the nineteenth century?

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19th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, Victorian, Victorian Commons

A Westminster Boy Made Good: Charles Barry (1795-1860)

In this guest post, previously published on the Victorian Commons, Dr Caroline Shenton, formerly the Director of the Parliamentary Archives and author of The Day Parliament Burned Down (2012) and Mr Barry’s War (2016), reflects on an often-forgotten aspect of the background of Charles Barry, architect of the New Houses of Parliament. On the night of 16 October 1834, thirty-nine year old Charles Barry was travelling … Continue reading A Westminster Boy Made Good: Charles Barry (1795-1860)

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