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History of Parliament

@histparl.bsky.social

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Creating a comprehensive account of parliamentary politics in England, then the UK, from the thirteenth century to the present day. You can find us at other places, here: https://linktr.ee/historyofparliament

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · Jul 14

Last month the #HistParl team headed to the Houses of Parliament to record a special episode of our podcast, Tales from the Green Benches, in front of a live audience.

The episode is now available to listen to, wherever you get your podcasts!
shows.acast.com/66e05895ae18...

Special Episode live from the Houses of Parliament! | Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament

With guests former MPs Anne Milton and Gisela, Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston

shows.acast.com

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 4h

Born #OTD 1944, David Trimble, Baron Trimble, Ulster Unionist MP for Upper Bann from 1990 to 2005. A key figure in the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement, ending the Troubles, he would serve as the inaugural First Minister of Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2002.

Photographic half-length portrait of a middle aged man. He is wearing a dark blue suit jacket with light blue pinstripes, a light blue shirt and blue tie with white polka dots. He is clean shaven with a rosy complexion, with side combed greying black hair.

History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 7h

We reflected on Professor Rush's career and the development of his groundbreaking Database on the #HistParl website.

Read about it here:
historyofparliament.com/2025/10/15/m...

Michael Rush and the Database - The History of Parliament

We were sad to hear recently of the death of Professor Michael Rush of the University of Exeter. Michael was a pioneering and indefatigable scholar of

historyofparliament.com

History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 7h

The History of Parliament team were very sad to hear of the recent death of Professor Michael Rush.

A pioneering scholar of parliament, Professor Rush's work on the social background of MPs and resulting Database stands as a fundamental source for generations of historians and political scientists.

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 9h

Died #OTD 1811, Nathaniel Dance-Holland. Before entering Parliament, Dance-Holland was a founding member of the Royal Academy and successful portrait artist. He was commissioned to paint, among others, Lord North, Queen Charlotte and Captain James Cook.
buff.ly/lE9GKAj

A half-length painted portrait of Nathaniel Dance. Standing side on looking over his shoulder, he is wearing a velvet-esque red jacket with a furred lapel, a green waistcoat can just be seen, as well as a white tied scarf wide on his neck. He is clean shaven with pushed back thick medium length brown hair.

Portrait of Queen Charlotte, stood in front of stone pillars and a red curtain. She has one hand on a red chair. A table is behind her, with a crown on top. She has pale skin, a grey wig and is wearing a white dress with flowers all over it and gold braid detail on the bust, cuffs and hem.

portrait of Captain Cook wearing captain's uniform, consisting of a blue jacket, white waistcoat with gold braid and gold buttons and white breeches. He has grey hair. He holds his own chart of the Southern Ocean on the table and his right hand points to the east coast of Australia on it. His left thumb and finger lightly hold the other edge of the chart over his knee. His hat sits on the table behind him.

Portrait of Lord North sat in a red chair, with a red curtain backdrop. He wears a grey wig tied with a black ribbon at the nape of his neck. He is wearing a white shirt with lace collar and cuffs, a red jacket and breeches, a blue sash over his chest, and black robes with heavy gold braiding.

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Reposted by History of Parliament

The Georgian Lords @georgianlords.bsky.social · 1d

Coming up this Friday - the 300th anniversary of the birth of 18th-century radical MP and Lord Mayor of #London, John Wilkes.
We'll be raising a toast to him at 17:57 (UK time) to chime with the year he was first elected to #Parliament.
#HistParl

The Georgian Lords @georgianlords.bsky.social · 5d

Marking John Wilkes's 300th anniversary (coming up next week), there is a short piece about him in the History Matters section of the latest @historytoday.com
www.historytoday.com/magazine

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

#OTD 1843 Irish nationalist politician Daniel O'Connell was arrested on charges of criminal conspiracy. Find out more about O'Connell's career via his #HistParl biography.

www.historyofparliamentonline.org

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Reposted by History of Parliament

Jennifer Davey @jhdavey.bsky.social · 2d

Busy week(s) here at @histparl.bsky.social

The Georgian Lords @georgianlords.bsky.social · 2d

It's all change for @histparl.bsky.social, @victoriancommons.bsky.social, @georgianlords.bsky.social and the rest of us at Bloomsbury Square.
Old Street, here we come.

photograph of a room filled with packing boxes

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 2d

#OTD 1399, Henry IV's coronation took place.

Reigning until his death in 1413, his passing brought about the now retired practice of terminating Parliament following the death of the monarch, as Dr Hannes Kleineke explores: historyofparliament.com/2022/09/20/d...

The termination of medieval Parliaments on the demise of the reigning monarch - The History of Parliament

As much of the nation, and the world, continues to reflect on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and accession of King Charles III, here Dr Hannes

historyofparliament.com

History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 3d

Born #OTD 1773, Lord Granville Leveson Gower, MP for Lichfield then Staffordshire, 1795-1815. He may have been the intended target of John Bellingham, who assassinated the Prime Minister Spencer Perceval in May 1812.

historyofparliamentonline.org

History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 4d

Born #OTD 1927, Jim Prior, Conservative MP for Lowestoft, later Waveney, from 1959 to 1987. In the 1980s he was one of a group of Conservative MPs, nicknamed 'wets', who disagreed with many of Margaret Thatcher's economic and social policies:

www.historyofparliamentonline.org

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 4d

#OTD 1727 the coronation of George II took place. #DYK that George was the last British monarch to ride into battle? In a 2018 article for #HistParl, Dr Robin Eagles explored his military career. historyofparliament.com/2018/10/11/h...

‘His Presence contributed greatly to the success of the Day’: George II, king and soldier - The History of Parliament

Today marks the anniversary of the coronation of George II, the British monarch known for being the last to ride into battle with their troops. He did so at

historyofparliament.com

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 5d

Died #OTD 1747, John Potter, a lesser known Archbishop of Canterbury.

Dr Robin Eagles explored his rise to the role, focusing particularly on how his sermon celebrating the accession of George I furthered his career in the Church:

historyofparliament.com/2025/08/07/j...

John Potter, an unusual Archbishop of Canterbury - The History of Parliament

In the latest blog for the Georgian Lords, Dr Robin Eagles examines the career of one of the lesser known Archbishops of Canterbury, who was able to make use

historyofparliament.com

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 5d

#OTD 1562 Elizabeth I was taken ill, which later turned out to be smallpox.

But what would have happened if the 29 year old queen had died? Dr Andrew Thrush explored this very question, below:
historyofparliament.com/2023/08/24/w...

What if Elizabeth I had Died in 1562? - The History of Parliament

It is easy to take the long reign of Elizabeth I for granted. But less than four years after Elizabeth ascended the throne, her life was nearly cut short,

historyofparliament.com

History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 5d

Born #OTD 1584, Philip Herbert, 4th earl of Pembroke.

Dr Fraser Dickinson explored Pembroke and the dramatic events surrounding him from May to July 1641 on the #HistParl website:

‘History from above’ and ‘history from below’: the example of Philip Herbert, 4th earl of Pembroke, May to July 1641 - The History of Parliament

Guest blogger Dr Fraser Dickinson uses the events surrounding Philip Herbert, 4th earl of Pembroke, between May and July 1641, to illustrate the interaction

historyofparliament.com

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

Died #OTD 1885, John Bowes.

Best known for the museum that shares his surname, which was a joint project with his wife Joséphine, Bowes was also an MP for Durham South. Find out more about his parliamentary career and what followed afterwards below:

John Bowes (1811-85): the MP and his museum - The History of Parliament

In this article Dr James Owen looks at the career of John Bowes (1811-85). Best known as an art collector and colliery owner, Bowes was MP for Durham South,

historyofparliament.com

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

#OTD 1665 Parliament met outside of Westminster at Oxford University due to the Great Plague of London.

This was one of four times in the 17th c. when the University played host to Parliament, as Dr Robin Eagles has explored for the #HistParl website:

historyofparliament.com/2013/10/10/1...

17th-century Oxford: Parliament goes back to school… - The History of Parliament

With Universities now back in the swing of a new term, Dr Robin Eagles takes a look at the disruption caused in 17th Century Oxford when Parliament came to

historyofparliament.com

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

Born #OTD 1933 Joe Ashton, Labour MP for Bassetlaw from 1968-2001.

Ashton first entered Parliament at a time when the Labour Party appeared to be 'dying on their feet', as Ashton reflected in his HistParl oral history interview: www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/oral-...

www.historyofparliamentonline.org

History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 7d

Born #OTD 1929 Betty Boothroyd, the first woman to be elected Speaker of the Commons

Revisit our tribute to Boothroyd, who passed away in 2023, which includes snippets of her interview for the #HistParl oral history project:
historyofparliament.com/2023/02/28/b...

A tribute to Betty Boothroyd - The History of Parliament

In today's blog, we pay tribute to Betty Boothroyd, the first female Speaker of the Commons, who sadly died yesterday. Dr Emma Peplow, Head of our Oral

historyofparliament.com

History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 7d

Died #OTD 1967, Clement Attlee, Labour Party leader and Prime Minister 1945-1951. Attlee led his party to a landslide victory in July 1945: an event that many late 20th c. MPs describe in their #OralHistory interviews as their 'political awakening'. historyofparliament.com/2015/07/27/1...

1945 Election: A political awakening - The History of Parliament

Seventy years ago yesterday the results of the 1945 General Election were declared. Although the poll had been held on 5 July, the results were only announced

historyofparliament.com

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 9d

2/ Albemarle was only 35 when he died. He did however leave behind a will, which was hotly-contested and divisive:
historyofparliament.com/2016/10/19/d...

The Duke of Albemarle’s will - The History of Parliament

Today, another post inspired by our recently-published volumes on the House of Lords. In this blog the editor, Dr Ruth Paley, discusses the hotly-contested

historyofparliament.com

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 9d

1/ Died #OTD 1688, Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle

Monck was first returned to Parliament at the age of 13 for Devon. When his father George, architect of the restoration of Charles II, died in 1670, Monck had to wait till he was 21 to enter the Lords as 2nd Duke of Albemarle.

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 9d

#OTD 110 years ago, the Hon. Charles Thomas Mills MP died at the Battle of Loos.

Dr Kathryn Rix explored the parliamentary and military service of the youngest MP killed during the First World War on the #HistParl site:

‘The hero legislator of Uxbridge’: the Hon. Charles Thomas Mills (1887-1915) - The History of Parliament

100 years ago the Battle of Loos proved deadly for a third MP, as today marks the anniversary of the seventh MP who died in fighting in the First World War.

historyofparliament.com

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

Born #OTD 1946 Ann Widdecombe, MP 1987-2010.

As part of our #OralHistory project, Widdecombe described the feeling of sitting in the House of Commons for the first time. Listen to this clip and reflections from other former MPs in this article: historyofparliament.com/2022/09/29/y...

‘You just become a tiny little speck of history’: First Impressions of the Palace of Westminster - The History of Parliament

When newly elected MPs first enter the Palace of Westminster, it is hard to ignore the hundreds of years of history that surrounds them. And as Dr Emma

historyofparliament.com

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 12d

Born #OTD 1554, Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke.

MP for various constituencies until he was raised to a peerage in 1621, he served as Chancellor of the Exechequer under James I for seven years. Find out more via his #HistParl bio: historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-...

A black and white lithograph of a man wearing a dark doublet with dark large sleeves, a thick white ruff and a black tall hat with a soft brim. He is clean shaven except from a long twirled moustache.

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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 12d

Died #OTD 2015 Denis Healey. Chancellor of the Exchequer during the economic crises of the late 1970s, and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in the turbulent early 1980s.

Head over to our YouTube channel to find out more about Healey's career:

Parliamentary Leadership: Denis Healey

In the third of our videos on parliamentary leadership Dr Emma Peplow discusses the career of Denis Healey, the Labour party leader that never was. The excerpts of Healey's voice are from the…

www.youtube.com

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