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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 2d

Today we visited The National Archives for a workshop organised by @joecozens.bsky.social and our own @martinspychal.bsky.social on Peter McLagan, Scotland's first Black MP. We looked at original documents relating to McLagan's life & had some great discussions about future directions for research.

A man dressed in a brown jacket, checked shirt and dark trousers is giving a presentation in front of a screen. The screen has the words Parliamentary career at the top.

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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 11d

A constituency wasn't the only thing the two shared. When Lewis died in 1838, Disraeli courted his widow. After dismissing many reservations, she married him. Mary Anne Disraeli would later reportedly say, 'Dizzy married me for my money, but if he had the chance again, he would marry me for love.’

Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 11d

Born #OnThisDay 1780 the Conservative MP Wyndham Lewis. He was Disraeli’s running mate in the Maidstone constituency in 1837 and financed their election campaign. Find out more about his political career in our article: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/m...

MP of the month: Wyndham Lewis

Wyndham Lewis (1780-1838) is probably best remembered today for bankrolling the future prime minister Benjamin Disraeli’s election to Parliament. Lewis’s wife Mary, an aspiring society hostess with…

victoriancommons.wordpress.com

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 27d

A reminder of our September article on the Victorian Commons site - we looked at the facilities provided for reporters (among them a young Charles Dickens) in the 19th century House of Commons: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/09/08/t...

‘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 nineteenth-century House of…

victoriancommons.wordpress.com

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 29d

William Tooke, MP for Truro, 1832-7, died #OnThisDay 1863. An active backbench MP, one of his major campaigns was to secure degree-awarding status for the University of London. Find out more here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2019/08/30/m...

MP of the Month: William Tooke and the royal charters of the University of London

Following our blogs on the creation of the University of London constituency in 1868 and its first MP, Robert Lowe, August’s MP of the Month is William Tooke. As MP for Truro from 1832, Tooke worke…

victoriancommons.wordpress.com

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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · Aug 22

RIP Frank O'Gorman. He was a lovely man and a brilliant historian, and I was very fortunate that he was my PhD supervisor. I will miss him.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...

Frank O’Gorman obituary

Other lives: Manchester University historian who wrote books on 18th- and 19th-century society

www.theguardian.com

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · Aug 11

This month marks the birth of Lord Ronald Gower, MP for Sutherland 1867-74 & a prominent figure in British LGBTQ+ history. To mark this we are reposting a series of articles by ‪@martinspychal.bsky.social exploring Gower’s parliamentary career. historyofparliament.com/2025/08/11/l... 🧵 [1/4]

Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916): the life of a queer MP at the time of the Second Reform Act - The History of Parliament

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 first of five

historyofparliament.com

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · Aug 8

#OnThisDay 1831 Lord Melbourne asked Thomas Drummond to establish a boundary commission to undertake the process of redrawing constituency boundaries as part of the major electoral reforms of 1832. Our research fellow Dr Martin Spychal explains more: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2021/06/28/s...

Surveying the UK’s parliamentary boroughs: map-making and the 1831-2 boundary commissions

To coincide with the publication of the initial proposals of the 2023 English boundary commission and the Society for One-Place Studies recent focus on maps, our research fellow, Dr Martin Spychal,…

victoriancommons.wordpress.com

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · Aug 6

🧵(5) While an authoritative and influential parliamentarian, much of O'Connell's strength was as a 'popular' politician among the masses, presenting himself as a 'people's champion' and embracing an early form of celebrity culture, as Dr Simon Morgan explores: buff.ly/YgsMFr4

From ‘People’s Champions’ to ‘Tribunes of the People’: popular politicians in Parliament, c. 1810 to 1867 - The History of Parliament

To find out more, Simon’s full-length paper ‘From ‘People’s Champions’ to ‘Tribunes of the People’: popular politicians in Parliament, c. 1810 to 1867’ is

thehistoryofparliament.wordpress.com

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · Jul 10

Our latest Victorian Commons article looks at what is thought to have been England's last political duel, fought between Canterbury's MPs in the run-up to the 1852 general election. victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/07/10/a...

A ‘new Canterbury Tale’: George Smythe, Frederick Romilly and England’s ‘last political duel’

Drawing on her research into Canterbury for the House of Commons, 1832-1868 project, our research fellow Dr Naomi Lloyd-Jones looks at the 1852 pre-election duel between the city’s MPs, Frederick R…

victoriancommons.wordpress.com

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · Jul 9

O in our #1832AtoZ is also for Ordnance Survey. Thomas Drummond had worked for the Ordnance Survey before using his map-making & scientific skills to oversee the drawing of new constituency boundaries in 1831-2. @martinspychal.bsky.social explores his work: historyofparliament.com/2015/02/24/t...

Parliaments, Politics and People seminar: Martin Spychal, 'One of the best men of business we had ever met': Thomas Drummond, the boundary commission and the 1832 Reform Act - The History of Parliamen...

At our last 'Parliaments, Politics and People' seminar, Martin Spychal, holder of an AHRC collaborative doctoral award with the History of Parliament and

historyofparliament.com

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · Jul 1

Today marks the anniversary of the birth of Harriet Grote in 1792.

As @martinspychal.bsky.social has explored in his series, now available on the #HistParl site, she was able to establish herself as one of Westminster’s leading radical politicians. (1/8)🧵

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IHR British History in the Long C18th Seminar @long18thsem.bsky.social · Jun 24

@joecozens.bsky.social, one of our seminar convenors, has just had an article published by @histparl.bsky.social discussing his research into John Lewis, a Black sailor who was arrested during the 1828 Weymouth by-election.

historyofparliament.com/2025/06/24/j...

John Lewis: A Black Sailor at the 1828 Weymouth By-Election - The History of Parliament

In this guest article Dr Joe Cozens discusses his research into John Lewis, a Black sailor who was arrested during the 1828 Weymouth by-election. Dr Cozens is

historyofparliament.com

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · Jun 24

New article today for the #HistParl site.

@joecozens.bsky.social explores the records of John Lewis, a Black sailor arrested at the 1828 Weymouth by-election, and how his story serves as an example of Black political participation in the early 19th century:

historyofparliament.com/2025/06/24/j...

John Lewis: A Black Sailor at the 1828 Weymouth By-Election - The History of Parliament

In this guest article Dr Joe Cozens discusses his research into John Lewis, a Black sailor who was arrested during the 1828 Weymouth by-election. Dr Cozens is

historyofparliament.com

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Institute of Historical Research @ihr.bsky.social · Jun 17

Studying, researching or teaching a history topic and not sure where to start? Try a search using the Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH)

Using BBIH online: a help pack for students and lecturers

For the academic year, we've a help pack offering guides to BBIH in undergraduate and graduate teaching and research. With embeddable content for VLEs.

bit.ly

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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · Jun 16

Excited to hear from Prof. Julian Hoppit on 17 June at the final IHR PPP seminar of term. He’ll be sharing new research into John Rickman’s career in Parliament during the early #19C. Join online for free! More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/10/j... @victoriancommons.bsky.social

Beyond the Census: John Rickman and Parliament - The History of Parliament

Professor Julian Hoppit, Honorary Professor of British History at UCL, will be discussing John Rickman and his career in Parliament.

historyofparliament.com

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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · Jun 16

Excited to hear from Prof. Julian Hoppit on 17 June at the final IHR PPP seminar of term. He’ll be sharing new research into John Rickman’s career in Parliament during the early #19C. Join online for free! More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/10/j... @victoriancommons.bsky.social

Beyond the Census: John Rickman and Parliament - The History of Parliament

Professor Julian Hoppit, Honorary Professor of British History at UCL, will be discussing John Rickman and his career in Parliament.

historyofparliament.com

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · Jun 12

In the first of an important new series, drawing on sources ranging from photographs to parliamentary reports, @martinspychal.bsky.social looks at the life and career of Scotland's first Black MP, Peter McLagan, MP for Linlithgowshire, 1865-93. victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/06/12/p...

Peter McLagan (1823-1900): Scotland’s first Black MP

This is the first article in a new series for the Victorian Commons on Peter McLagan (1823-1900), by Dr Martin Spychal, Senior Research Fellow on our House of Commons 1832-1868 project. McLagan was…

victoriancommons.wordpress.com

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · Jun 10

Looking forward to hearing next week about Rickman, who spent 12 years as the Speaker's Secretary and 26 years as a Clerk in the House of Commons. Come and join us online on Tuesday 17th June.

History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · Jun 10

On 17 June Professor Julian Hoppit will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar, where he will be discussing John Rickman and his career in Parliament.

Find out more about the paper and how to attend the seminar below: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/10/j...

Beyond the Census: John Rickman and Parliament - The History of Parliament

Professor Julian Hoppit, Honorary Professor of British History at UCL, will be discussing John Rickman and his career in Parliament.

historyofparliament.com

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · Jun 10

On 17 June Professor Julian Hoppit will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar, where he will be discussing John Rickman and his career in Parliament.

Find out more about the paper and how to attend the seminar below: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/10/j...

Beyond the Census: John Rickman and Parliament - The History of Parliament

Professor Julian Hoppit, Honorary Professor of British History at UCL, will be discussing John Rickman and his career in Parliament.

historyofparliament.com

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Reposted by Martin Spychal

Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · Jun 2

Born #OnThisDay 1768 Matthew Wood represented London as a radical reformer, 1817-43. Early in his parliamentary career he played a leading role in the defence of Queen Caroline. Find out more in this post from @martinspychal.bsky.social : victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2021/06/02/t... #HistParl

The queen and the chemist’s son: Matthew Wood MP and the radical defence of Queen Caroline

Matthew Wood (1768-1843) represented London as a radical reformer between 1817 and 1843. From 1832 he was a committed advocate of metropolitan legislation and an active figure in the committee corr…

victoriancommons.wordpress.com

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · May 27

On 3 June Professor Wendy Ugolini will be speaking at the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar on 'The Recording Angel and the expression of English Welsh identities during the First World War'.

Find out more about the paper and how to attend below:

historyofparliament.com/2025/05/27/t...

The Recording Angel and the expression of English Welsh identities during the First World War - The History of Parliament

we hear from Professor Wendy Ugolini of the University of Edinburgh. On 3 June she will discuss The Recording Angel and the expression of English Welsh identities during the First World War.

historyofparliament.com

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IHR British History in the Long C18th Seminar @long18thsem.bsky.social · May 22

Join us next Wednesday 28 May, in person at the IHR and online (17:30-19:30) to hear Annabelle Gilmore’s (Birmingham) paper “‘I shall describe no more’: Reconnecting Black Histories to the Beckford Collection at Charlecote Park”

@ihr.bsky.social

www.history.ac.uk/events/i-sha...

‘I shall describe no more’: Reconnecting Black Histories to the Beckford Collection at Charlecote Park

www.history.ac.uk

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · May 19

Come and join us online tomorrow - there is still time to sign up!

Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · May 15

Sign up Sign up! @katrinanavickas.bsky.social will be discussing the evolution of political marches in London at our free online IHR seminar next week. For sign up details, more info and a link to her brilliant (evolving) historical protest route map see here: historyofparliament.com/2025/05/13/h...

How did the routes of political processions and protest marches evolve in London during the nineteenth century? - The History of Parliament

Professor Katrina Navickas of the University of Hertfordshire will be discussing ‘The development of political processions and protest marches in London, 1780-1939’.

historyofparliament.com

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · May 15

New article today from the @victoriancommons.bsky.social!

Dr Kathryn Rix compares the 1835 and 1865 general elections and how the electoral system established by the 1832 Reform Act changed over the thirty years between them.

historyofparliament.com/2025/05/15/1...

The evolving electoral system: the 1835 and 1865 general elections compared - The History of Parliament

The 1835 and 1865 general elections both took place under the electoral system established by the 1832 Reform Act, with 1865 being the last general election before the 1867 Reform Act made significant...

historyofparliament.com

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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · May 15

Sign up Sign up! @katrinanavickas.bsky.social will be discussing the evolution of political marches in London at our free online IHR seminar next week. For sign up details, more info and a link to her brilliant (evolving) historical protest route map see here: historyofparliament.com/2025/05/13/h...

How did the routes of political processions and protest marches evolve in London during the nineteenth century? - The History of Parliament

Professor Katrina Navickas of the University of Hertfordshire will be discussing ‘The development of political processions and protest marches in London, 1780-1939’.

historyofparliament.com

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