Author: History of Parliament

portrait of a young man in 18th-century dress
Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Constituencies, Elections, Factions, Frederick North, 2nd earl of Guilford, George III, Georgian, Local History, Parties, William Pitt the Younger

‘of all others most desirable’: Pitt the Younger and elections for Cambridge

From the onset of his lengthy political career, William Pitt the Younger had his eyes fixed on representing his alma mater, the University of Cambridge. Writing to his mother in July 1779, he observed that the University seat was ‘of all others most desirable, as being free from expense, perfectly independent, and I think in every respect extremely honourable’. In this latest guest post for … Continue reading ‘of all others most desirable’: Pitt the Younger and elections for Cambridge

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Georgian, 18th Century history, 19th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, Conferences, Seminars and Events, Henry Addington, Viscount Sidmouth, Speakers of the House

The Speaker’s House and the Evolution of the Speakership, 1794–1834

At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on 6 May 2025, Dr Murray Tremellen of York Museums Trust will be discussing ‘The Speaker’s House and the Evolution of the Speakership, 1794–1834’ . The seminar takes place on 6 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. There are … Continue reading The Speaker’s House and the Evolution of the Speakership, 1794–1834

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

James Lamont (1828-1913), Arctic explorer and scientist

Our 1832-68 House of Commons project has researched many MPs who were better known for their exploits outside Parliament than in the Commons. In this guest article, Dr Matthew McDowell, of the University of Edinburgh, who has contributed to our 1832-68 project with articles on Buteshire and its MPs, explores the career of the noted Arctic explorer James Lamont. At only four years old, a … Continue reading James Lamont (1828-1913), Arctic explorer and scientist

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Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Benjamin Disraeli, Social history, Victorian

Disraeli and One Nation Conservatism

In this article our former colleague Dr Henry Miller explores the origins of the phrase ‘One Nation’, which is famously associated with the 19th century Conservative leader and prime minister Benjamin Disraeli (1803-81). He also explains its relevance to Disraeli’s career and its political legacy. The term ‘One Nation’ comes from Disraeli’s 1845 novel Sybil; or the two nations. After the young aristocrat Charles Egremont … Continue reading Disraeli and One Nation Conservatism

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Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Victorian

From Greenwich to the green benches: Alfred Rhodes Bristow (1818-1875)

The ongoing research of our House of Commons, 1832-1868 project has found a surprising number of MPs who came from relatively humble backgrounds, using politics as a means of personal advancement. In this post our former colleague Dr Stephen Ball explores the career of Alfred Rhodes Bristow, a Greenwich draper’s son who became Liberal MP for Kidderminster. By the 1850s a seat in Parliament was … Continue reading From Greenwich to the green benches: Alfred Rhodes Bristow (1818-1875)

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19th Century history, Constituencies, Victorian, Victorian Commons

Richard Cobden and his constituencies

In this guest post, originally published on the Victorian Commons website, Professor Simon Morgan of Leeds Beckett University, the principal investigator on the Letters of Richard Cobden Online resource, shows how Cobden’s letters can shed light on his role as a constituency MP. The publication in 2023 of the Letters of Richard Cobden Online, an open access database funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and containing … Continue reading Richard Cobden and his constituencies

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Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments, 17th Century history, Electoral Reform, Interregnum, Oliver Cromwell, Parliamentary Life, Religious history, Social history

Oliver Cromwell’s ‘Other House’ and the perils of Lords ‘reform’

In this guest post, Dr Jonathan Fitzgibbons of Lincoln University, looks at a constitutional issue from the 1650s with obvious contemporary relevance: the place of the House of Lords. As politicians continue to debate the House of Lords’ future, including legislation to eliminate its remaining hereditary peers, they might draw lessons from its past. Particularly instructive are the events of the English Revolution, which saw … Continue reading Oliver Cromwell’s ‘Other House’ and the perils of Lords ‘reform’

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, 17th Century history, Charles I, Commons in the Civil Wars, Stuart

Approaching the ‘great Court of Justice now sitting’: petitioning and parliamentary memory in the Long Parliament (1640-1642)

Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Dr Ellen Paterson, Keble College, University of Oxford. On 11 March Ellen will discuss petitioning and parliamentary memory in the Long Parliament (1640-1642). The seminar takes place on 11 March 2025, between 5:30 and 6.30 p.m. It is fully ‘hybrid’, which means you can attend either in-person in London at the IHR, or online … Continue reading Approaching the ‘great Court of Justice now sitting’: petitioning and parliamentary memory in the Long Parliament (1640-1642)

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, 20th century history, Modern, Winston Churchill

Scrutinising Wartime Britain: The Commons Committees on National Expenditure 1917-20 and 1939-45

Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Dr Philip Aylett. On 25 February, Philip will discuss ‘Scrutinising Wartime Britain: The Commons Committees on National Expenditure 1917-20 and 1939-45’. The seminar takes place on 25 February 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. The two world wars … Continue reading Scrutinising Wartime Britain: The Commons Committees on National Expenditure 1917-20 and 1939-45

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, History of Parliament Trust

Lived experiences of the Westminster Parliament in history: People, sociability, communities and space

On Friday 14 March 2025, a one-day conference, Lived Experiences of Westminster Parliament in History: People, Sociability, Communities, & Space, will be held at the University of Warwick. Organised by Brendan Tam and Chloe Challender and supported by the History of Parliament Trust and the University of Warwick’s Early Modern and Eighteenth Century Centre, the conference will examine the evolving dynamics between individuals and the … Continue reading Lived experiences of the Westminster Parliament in history: People, sociability, communities and space

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