Author: Philip Salmon

Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Elections, Parliamentary Life, Parties, Robert Peel, Speakers of the House, Victorian, William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne

The politics of electing the Speaker: The case of Shaw Lefevre (1794-1888)

Following on from our post about James Abercromby‘s highly-charged partisan election as Speaker in 1835, Philip Salmon explores the 1839 and 1841 elections of his successor Charles Shaw Lefevre. These shed new light on the so-called ‘Bedchamber crisis’ involving Queen Victoria, and hint at tell-tale splits within the Conservative party long before the famous repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846. Considered by the Liberal … Continue reading The politics of electing the Speaker: The case of Shaw Lefevre (1794-1888)

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19th Century history, Elections, Electoral Reform, Victorian Commons, Women and Parliament

Marrying for the vote: the freedom-by-marriage franchise before 1832

Of all the bizarre voting qualifications in operation before 1832 – from potwallopers to burgage holders – one of the most striking was the freedom-by-marriage franchise. Philip Salmon explains how this system worked and even survived briefly after 1832, contrary to what has been widely assumed. The freeman-by-marriage franchise remains one of the most paradoxical elements of the UK’s pre-democratic voting system. Women may not … Continue reading Marrying for the vote: the freedom-by-marriage franchise before 1832

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Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Constituencies, Elections, Victorian

Who could vote? From potwallopers to ten-pounders: post-1832 franchises explained

Clarifying the workings of England’s historic electoral system, Philip Salmon examines who could vote following the changes made by the ‘Great’ Reform Act of 1832. This article covers the system which was in operation until the next major Reform Act in 1867. Potwallopers, ten-pounders, scot and lot voters, copyholders, burgage holders, freemen, forty-shilling freeholders, tenants-at-will – these are just some of the archaic terms for … Continue reading Who could vote? From potwallopers to ten-pounders: post-1832 franchises explained

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Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Parties, Robert Peel, Victorian

Sir Robert Peel and the modern Conservative party

Sir Robert Peel, twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834-35, 1841-46), entered Parliament at only 21 years of age. He went on to establish the Metropolitan police, repeal controversial laws such as the Test and Corporation Acts and later the Corn Laws, and introduce Catholic emancipation. However, as Dr Philip Salmon from our House of Commons 1832-68 section explores, Peel also played a significant … Continue reading Sir Robert Peel and the modern Conservative party

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19th Century history, Elections, Electoral Reform, Victorian Commons, Women and Parliament

Votes for women before and after 1832

Continuing our series on the practical workings of the UK’s historic voting system, Philip Salmon of our House of Commons, 1832-1868 project re-examines when and how some women could vote long before they secured equal electoral rights with men. Women’s participation in politics before 1918, when they acquired the parliamentary vote, is now well documented. After decades of neglect in older narratives, a wide range of … Continue reading Votes for women before and after 1832

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Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Parliamentary Life, Victorian

Reporting debates in the Victorian Commons

Today we take it for granted that parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. During the Victorian era, however, there was no ‘official’ record. Dr Philip Salmon shows how, before the advent of modern democracy, public interest in Parliament was sufficient for reports of debates to be produced and sold commercially. As democracy advanced, however, the public’s appetite began to change … During the early 19th … Continue reading Reporting debates in the Victorian Commons

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19th Century history, Constituencies, Corruption, Elections, Speakers of the House, Victorian, Victorian Commons

Happy New Year from the Victorian Commons for 2026!

Here’s wishing all our readers a very enjoyable New Year! 2025 was a particularly memorable year for our 1832-68 House of Commons project and the History of Parliament. After 20 years based at Bloomsbury Square in the so-called ‘knowledge quarter’ around the British Museum, we sorted and packed decades of research materials and relocated to a new open-plan office at 14-18 Old Street in Islington. The volume … Continue reading Happy New Year from the Victorian Commons for 2026!

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Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Corruption, Electoral Reform, Legislative History, Social history, Victorian

The 1832 Reform Act

‘Was the 1832 Reform Act “Great”?’ may not be the standard exam question it once was, but ongoing research about the Act’s broader legacy and impact on political culture, based on new resources and analytical techniques, continues to reshape our understanding of its place in modern British political development, as Dr Philip Salmon of our House of Commons, 1832-1945 project explains. For a 20 minute … Continue reading The 1832 Reform Act

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Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, 20th century history, Parliamentary Life

The role and power of the Victorian House of Lords

Dr Philip Salmon looks at a key element of Parliament which we don’t usually have much opportunity to reflect on in our work on Victorian MPs and constituencies: the House of Lords. As he explains below, the upper chamber played a vital role in many important 19th century reforms and continued to wield significant influence even after the 1911 Parliament Act. The House of Lords … Continue reading The role and power of the Victorian House of Lords

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Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Arthur Wellesley, 1st duke of Wellington, Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, Electoral Reform, Legislative History, Queen Victoria, Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd marquess of Salisbury, Victorian

House of Lords reform: a Victorian perspective

Unlike the House of Commons, which underwent major ‘democratic’ reform in the 19th century, the Lords remained virtually unchanged during the entire Victorian period. With a new hereditary peers bill now entering its final stages, Dr Philip Salmon explores how and why the House of Lords was able to survive the ‘age of reform’, highlighting constitutional difficulties that still have relevance today. The 19th century … Continue reading House of Lords reform: a Victorian perspective

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