Articles by Paul Seaward
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The passing of the bill of attainder against the Jacobite Sir John Fenwick
On 25 November 1696 the House of Commons, after a bitter series of debates, finally passed a bill that would result in the execution of the Northumbrian baronet Sir John Fenwick, for treason in January 1697. As Dr Paul Seaward…
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Dining in the Palace of Varieties: institutional culture, society living and party management in the Victorian House of Commons
Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Professor Paul Seaward, former Director of the History of Parliament. On 29 October he will discuss Dining in the Palace of Varieties: institutional culture, society living and party management…
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The House of Commons Chamber and the Politics of Seating
Parliament will be officially opened this week and debates will begin once again in the House of Commons. But with the Labour party winning such a large majority in the 2024 General Election, some of their Members may be left…
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In Memoriam: Patrick, Lord Cormack & the History of Parliament Trust
We at the History of Parliament have been deeply saddened to hear of the death of Lord Cormack, Patrick Cormack, who has been one of the History’s greatest friends and allies for more than forty years. Former Director, Paul Seaward,…
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75 Years of the National Health Service: A Political History of Health and Healthcare in Britain
In September, the History of Parliament celebrated our latest publication with St James’s House to commemorate 75 years of the NHS at Westminster Abbey. Paul Seaward, Director of the History of Parliament, discusses the contents of the book and how to…
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For St Valentine’s Day, a sad story about marital devotion from Civil War and Restoration Suffolk – or is it?
This Valentine’s Day, Paul Seaward, Director of the History of Parliament, reflects on the marital devotion of Sir Henry North, and questions how devoted North truly was… In the parish church at Mildenhall, Suffolk, close by the chancel, there is…
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Sir Job Charlton and the Declaration of Indulgence 1672-3
As we continue our recent blog series exploring the careers of notable people to occupy the role of Speaker, here History of Parliament director Dr Paul Seaward examines the debates behind appointing this influential job in the 17th century and…
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March 1672: The Declaration of Indulgence
In March 1672 Charles II issued a document to remove harsh sanctions against religious non-conformity. But what brought about this ‘Declaration of Indulgence’ and why was a supposedly tolerant measure met with heavy criticism? History of Parliament Director Dr Paul…
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Parliamentary Humanism: The History of Parliaments as The History of Ideas
In our latest blog we’re returning to the ‘Recovering Europe’s Parliamentary Culture, 1500-1700’ project. Since late September, we’ve been working with the University of Oxford and the Centre for Intellectual History at the University of Oxford to put together series of blogs that…
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Parliament and the Naval Review
In today’s blog our director Dr Paul Seaward is casting his eyes out to sea, with a look into the popularity of the Naval Review in the late 19th century. However, these displays of British maritime power weren’t always smooth…
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The ‘Glorious Twelfth’
Did you know that the twelfth of August was an important date in the Victorian and Edwardian political – and social – calendar? In today’s blog our director Dr Paul Seaward continues our look into the summer holidays of parliamentarians…
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The Graphic Parliament: Picturing the House of Commons 1880-1920
At the end of June, History of Parliament Director Dr Paul Seaward joined House of Commons photographer Jess Taylor to take part in a British Academy summer showcase event about picturing the House of Commons, comparing her work to the…