Black and Political: Reconstructing Black Participation in British Politics, 1750-1850
At a special joint session of the IHR’s Parliaments, Politics and People and British History in the Long 18th Century seminars on Wednesday 3 December, …
Cricket in the Commons: a Victorian First Eleven
With the 2025 Ashes between England and Australia getting underway this week, we have a cricketing themed post from our House of Commons, 1832-1945 project. …
‘Abominable, unutterable, and worse than fables’: the campaign to pass the Criminal Law Amendment Bill
At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 11 November, Steven Spencer of Birkbeck, University of London, will be discussing the campaign to …
The ladies’ gallery in the temporary House of Commons
This article from Dr Kathryn Rix, Assistant Editor of our House of Commons, 1832-1945 section, looks at the provision made for women to witness debates in …
The Westminster Fire of 1834
In this guest article, Dr Caroline Shenton, author of 'The Day Parliament Burned Down' and 'Mr Barry's War: Rebuilding the Houses of Parliament after the …
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 …
‘A place of business’: the temporary chamber of the House of Commons, 1835-1851
As part of our series on parliamentary buildings, Dr Kathryn Rix of our House of Commons, 1832-1945 project looks at the temporary chamber used by …
‘I have attached myself to no party’: Daniel Gaskell and parliamentary life in the 1830s
Our Victorian Commons project is shedding new light on the increasingly important role played in the behind-the-scenes business of the post-1832 House of Commons, particularly …
‘The status of the Press is changed indeed’: the reporters’ gallery in the nineteenth-century House of Commons
Continuing our series on parliamentary buildings, Dr Kathryn Rix looks at the accommodation provided for the newspaper journalists who reported on the proceedings of the …
From patent laws and prison reform to a threatened duel: the intriguing life of Benjamin Rotch MP
Untangling the eclectic career of Benjamin Rotch (1793-1854), Whig MP for Knaresborough, 1832-5, proved to be an extremely interesting piece of research for Dr Kathryn …
The remarkable rise of William Schaw Lindsay MP (1815-1877)
William Schaw Lindsay MP rose from poverty-stricken orphan to shipping tycoon by his late 30s. Lindsay was known for his involvement in the Administrative Reform …
Prisoner, prize-fighter, politician: John Gully’s rise to fame
Amongst his many endeavours, John Gully's venture into politics was an unexpected, yet successful, career choice. In this article Dr Kathryn Rix of our House …
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 …
Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916): the life of a queer MP at the time of the Second Reform Act
Dr Martin Spychal introduces his series of articles on Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916), who was elected as MP for Sutherland in 1867. This is the …
The ‘beautiful boy’ of the Commons: Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916) and sexual identity in Parliament at the time of the Second Reform Act
In the third of his article series on Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916), Dr Martin Spychal explores Gower’s parliamentary reputation as the 'beautiful boy’ of the …
Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916): the social life of a queer MP at the time of the Second Reform Act
In the second article in his series on Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916), Dr Martin Spychal explores Gower’s London social life during his first year in …
‘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 …
Josiah Wedgwood (1769-1843): from pottery to politics
Today (3rd August) marks the anniversary of the birth of Josiah Wedgwood MP in 1769. Wedgwood has a special significance for the History of Parliament …
Defying the Whip: ‘rebel’ MP Swynfen Jervis (1797-1867)
On the anniversary of Swynfen Jervis's return for Bridport in 1837, Dr Philip Salmon of the Victorian Commons explores the career of this 'eccentric' MP, …
The 1872 Secret Ballot and Multiple Member Seats
In this post about the introduction of the ballot in UK elections, based on a seminar talk (click here to view), Dr Philip Salmon examines …