Author: Robin Eagles

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

“Void of all faith and honour?” The fall(s) and rise of Viscount Bolingbroke

In this latest blog post from the Georgian Lords, Dr Robin Eagles considers the instability of the early years of George I’s reign and the changing fortunes of former secretary of state, Henry St John, Viscount Bolingbroke The Hanoverian succession may have passed off peacefully in 1714, but within a year of George I ascending the throne the new regime was faced with rioting in … Continue reading “Void of all faith and honour?” The fall(s) and rise of Viscount Bolingbroke

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Elections, Georgian, Henry Pelham, Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st duke of Newcastle

‘Of the utmost weight for the safety and tranquillity of the kingdom’: the snap election of 1747

The latest in our General Election 2017 series and launching our new blog series on The Georgian Lords, Dr Robin Eagles, Senior Research Fellow of the Lords 1715-90 Section, describes the Pelham ministry’s snap decision to call an election and catch the opposition off-balance… On 17 June 1747 George II attended the House of Lords to grant his assent to some 59 new pieces of … Continue reading ‘Of the utmost weight for the safety and tranquillity of the kingdom’: the snap election of 1747

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Georgian, Religious history, Social history

‘Time, that great discoverer of truth and falsehood’: the calendar change of 1752 and the dating of Easter

As Easter weekend – late this year – approaches, Dr Robin Eagles, Senior Research Fellow in the House of Lords 1660-1832 section, discusses the timing of Easter and the 18th century change from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar… On 25 February 1751 Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th earl of Chesterfield, introduced into the House of Lords a bill for amending the calendar after he had, … Continue reading ‘Time, that great discoverer of truth and falsehood’: the calendar change of 1752 and the dating of Easter

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Stuart, 18th Century history, Military history, Religious history

A ‘Glorious’ Revolution?

This week the BBC’s new series ‘British History’s Biggest fibs’ tackles some of the myths surrounding the ‘Glorious Revolution’ of 1688-1689. Dr Robin Eagles casts a glance over some aspects of the revolution’s commemoration… In July 1789 the House of Lords considered a motion introduced by Earl Stanhope for a day of national commemoration to be instituted marking the anniversary of the Glorious Revolution. A … Continue reading A ‘Glorious’ Revolution?

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18th Century history, 17th Century history, Georgian, Religious history, Social history, Stuart

‘A good preparation for Christmas’: Revolution and Augustan Yuletides

Christmas cheer at times came a distant second to political intrigue for those featured in our recently published volumes, The House of Lords 1660-1715. Dr Robin Eagles and Dr Charles Littleton tell us more… Christmas was not always a time of mirth and celebration at the English royal court in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Christmas of 1688 was marked by a severe political … Continue reading ‘A good preparation for Christmas’: Revolution and Augustan Yuletides

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Stuart, 17th Century history, Legal history, Parliamentary Life, Social history

Sir Edward Coke and the Bill of Rights: the royal prerogative and parliament in the seventeenth century

Last week the high court ruled on the process the government needs to follow in order to trigger article 50 and initiate Britain’s exit from the European Union. In today’s blog, Dr Robin Eagles discusses the background to the 17th century precedents the judges cited in their ruling… Last week’s judgment by the high court that Theresa May’s government was not able to use its … Continue reading Sir Edward Coke and the Bill of Rights: the royal prerogative and parliament in the seventeenth century

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Social history, 18th Century history, 19th Century history, 20th century history, Georgian, Modern, Victorian

Parliament, patriotism and the Last Night of the Proms

As the Proms come to an end this Saturday with the traditional ‘Last Night’, Dr Robin Eagles, Senior Research Fellow in the House of Lords 1660-1832 section, discusses the political history of the proms… Few events appear more synonymous with Britishness than the flag-waving jamboree that is the (second half of) the Last Night of the Proms – the gala concert that brings to a … Continue reading Parliament, patriotism and the Last Night of the Proms

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18th Century history, Factions, Georgian Lords, Military history, Parties

‘At whose door must this resentment be laid?’ The Whig Schism of 1717

The fall-out from Brexit has caused considerable disarray in the British party system, and over the course of this summer four parties either have new leaders or are holding leadership contests. Over the summer we’ll take a look at some past examples of party tensions, and the dramatic splits that they can lead to. First in this series, Dr Robin Eagles, Senior Research Fellow in … Continue reading ‘At whose door must this resentment be laid?’ The Whig Schism of 1717

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Social history, 17th Century history, 18th Century history, Military history, Stuart

House of Lords 1660-1715… and duelling

Next month the History of Parliament will publish our first set of volumes focussing on the House of Lords. Covering the period 1660-1715, this five-volume work is now available for pre-order at Cambridge University Press, at a special pre-publication price. This month we’re publishing a series of blogposts inspired by research from the volumes. In the second of this series, Dr Robin Eagles discusses a … Continue reading House of Lords 1660-1715… and duelling

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Diplomacy and International Relations, Economic history, Georgian

“Contrary to the fundamental laws of nature”? The passage of the Declaratory Act, March 1766

250 years ago this week Parliament passed the ‘Declaratory Act’, aimed at limiting the damage of the earlier repeal of the Stamp Act. In the second of two blogs on the issue, Dr Robin Eagles, Senior Research Fellow in the House of Lords 1660-1832 section, discusses the debates on the issue – whether the British parliament could, in principle, tax its colonies when they did … Continue reading “Contrary to the fundamental laws of nature”? The passage of the Declaratory Act, March 1766

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