Martin Spychal
@martinspychal.bsky.social
Senior Research Fellow, History of Parliament, House of Commons, 1832-1945 project. History, politics, prints, cats - maybe music & cricket. New book 'Mapping the State' OUT NOW. bit.ly/3RQmUeK
Reposted by Martin Spychal
For #StAndrewsDay we are sharing @martinspychal.bsky.social's recent post on Scottish county politics between 1832 and 1868, drawing on @histparl.bsky.social's research on Scotland’s constituencies: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2024/08/27/s...
Scottish county politics between the 1832 and 1868 Scottish Reform Acts
Last month Durham University, supported by the History of Parliament, hosted the Histories of Scottish Politics in the Age of Union, c.1700-1945 conference. At the conference, Dr Martin Spychal, a …
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
November 30, 2025 at 11:21 AM
For #StAndrewsDay we are sharing @martinspychal.bsky.social's recent post on Scottish county politics between 1832 and 1868, drawing on @histparl.bsky.social's research on Scotland’s constituencies: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2024/08/27/s...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
On 3 December, Helen Wilson will be speaking at a special joint session of the IHR’s Parliaments, Politics and People and British History in the Long 18th Century seminars.
Find out more about her paper on 'Reconstructing Black Participation in British Politics, 1750-1850' below:
Find out more about her paper on 'Reconstructing Black Participation in British Politics, 1750-1850' below:
Black and Political: Reconstructing Black Participation in British Politics, 1750-1850 - The History of Parliament
Dr Helen Wilson will be discussing Black participation in British Politics between 1750 and 1850.
historyofparliament.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:30 PM
On 3 December, Helen Wilson will be speaking at a special joint session of the IHR’s Parliaments, Politics and People and British History in the Long 18th Century seminars.
Find out more about her paper on 'Reconstructing Black Participation in British Politics, 1750-1850' below:
Find out more about her paper on 'Reconstructing Black Participation in British Politics, 1750-1850' below:
Reposted by Martin Spychal
On today's episode of 'Materials of State' on BBC Radio 4, David Cannadine alongside Dr Mari Takayanagi
(@satisfactory20.bsky.social), will be examing the history of the ballot box.
We've published several articles on the history of the secret ballot 🧵
(@satisfactory20.bsky.social), will be examing the history of the ballot box.
We've published several articles on the history of the secret ballot 🧵
November 26, 2025 at 8:30 AM
On today's episode of 'Materials of State' on BBC Radio 4, David Cannadine alongside Dr Mari Takayanagi
(@satisfactory20.bsky.social), will be examing the history of the ballot box.
We've published several articles on the history of the secret ballot 🧵
(@satisfactory20.bsky.social), will be examing the history of the ballot box.
We've published several articles on the history of the secret ballot 🧵
Reposted by Martin Spychal
Really great paper from @nemgarrett.bsky.social, and for anyone who missed it, the good news is that an extended version is being published next year in a collection edited by my @histparl.bsky.social colleague Naomi Lloyd-Jones.
Looking forward to hearing about the duchess of Gordon and the late 18C ‘tartan rage’ at tonight’s IHR Parliaments, Politics and People ONLINE seminar. Sign up FREE at the link below! historyofparliament.com/2025/11/18/t... @nemgarrett.bsky.social
‘The Tartan Rage’: Fashion, High Society, and Scottish Identity in Eighteenth-Century London - The History of Parliament
The Tartan rage has at length reached Paris,’ declared the World in June 1787. Demand for tartan fabric and accessories had swept British high society earlier that year, with the Gazetteer and New Dai...
historyofparliament.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Really great paper from @nemgarrett.bsky.social, and for anyone who missed it, the good news is that an extended version is being published next year in a collection edited by my @histparl.bsky.social colleague Naomi Lloyd-Jones.
Reposted by Martin Spychal
Looking forward to hearing about the duchess of Gordon and the late 18C ‘tartan rage’ at tonight’s IHR Parliaments, Politics and People ONLINE seminar. Sign up FREE at the link below! historyofparliament.com/2025/11/18/t... @nemgarrett.bsky.social
‘The Tartan Rage’: Fashion, High Society, and Scottish Identity in Eighteenth-Century London - The History of Parliament
The Tartan rage has at length reached Paris,’ declared the World in June 1787. Demand for tartan fabric and accessories had swept British high society earlier that year, with the Gazetteer and New Dai...
historyofparliament.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Looking forward to hearing about the duchess of Gordon and the late 18C ‘tartan rage’ at tonight’s IHR Parliaments, Politics and People ONLINE seminar. Sign up FREE at the link below! historyofparliament.com/2025/11/18/t... @nemgarrett.bsky.social
Looking forward to hearing about the duchess of Gordon and the late 18C ‘tartan rage’ at tonight’s IHR Parliaments, Politics and People ONLINE seminar. Sign up FREE at the link below! historyofparliament.com/2025/11/18/t... @nemgarrett.bsky.social
‘The Tartan Rage’: Fashion, High Society, and Scottish Identity in Eighteenth-Century London - The History of Parliament
The Tartan rage has at length reached Paris,’ declared the World in June 1787. Demand for tartan fabric and accessories had swept British high society earlier that year, with the Gazetteer and New Dai...
historyofparliament.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Looking forward to hearing about the duchess of Gordon and the late 18C ‘tartan rage’ at tonight’s IHR Parliaments, Politics and People ONLINE seminar. Sign up FREE at the link below! historyofparliament.com/2025/11/18/t... @nemgarrett.bsky.social
Reposted by Martin Spychal
In the second episode of 'Materials of State', David Cannadine will be exploring the importance of the Sword of State, which you can listen to at 1:45pm today on BBC Radio 4.
Looking through our archive we have highlighted some of our favourite ways the Sword of State has appeared in our research 🧵
Looking through our archive we have highlighted some of our favourite ways the Sword of State has appeared in our research 🧵
November 25, 2025 at 9:15 AM
In the second episode of 'Materials of State', David Cannadine will be exploring the importance of the Sword of State, which you can listen to at 1:45pm today on BBC Radio 4.
Looking through our archive we have highlighted some of our favourite ways the Sword of State has appeared in our research 🧵
Looking through our archive we have highlighted some of our favourite ways the Sword of State has appeared in our research 🧵
Reposted by Martin Spychal
'Materials of State' will be airing this week on Radio 4, made in association with the History of Parliament.
The series examines the artefacts and emblems that have shaped, and continue to shape, the British constitution.
You can catch the first episode today at 1:45pm:
buff.ly/1I5JVcE
The series examines the artefacts and emblems that have shaped, and continue to shape, the British constitution.
You can catch the first episode today at 1:45pm:
buff.ly/1I5JVcE
BBC Radio 4 - Materials of State, The Union Jack
David Cannadine explores the history of the Union Jack.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 9:25 AM
'Materials of State' will be airing this week on Radio 4, made in association with the History of Parliament.
The series examines the artefacts and emblems that have shaped, and continue to shape, the British constitution.
You can catch the first episode today at 1:45pm:
buff.ly/1I5JVcE
The series examines the artefacts and emblems that have shaped, and continue to shape, the British constitution.
You can catch the first episode today at 1:45pm:
buff.ly/1I5JVcE
Reposted by Martin Spychal
If you're interested in Scottish national identity, eighteenth-century fashion, and/or women in politics, you may be interested in the paper I'm presenting at the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar next Tuesday. Best of all, it's online!
#eighteenthcentury #womenshistory #Scottishhistory
#eighteenthcentury #womenshistory #Scottishhistory
On 25 November, Dr Natalie Garrett will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics & People Seminar, where they will be presenting on Jane, duchess of Gordon and the Romanticisation of Scottish Identity in London, c.1780-1812.
Find out more and how to attend below:
Find out more and how to attend below:
‘The Tartan Rage’: Fashion, High Society, and Scottish Identity in Eighteenth-Century London - The History of Parliament
The Tartan rage has at length reached Paris,’ declared the World in June 1787. Demand for tartan fabric and accessories had swept British high society earlier that year, with the Gazetteer and New…
historyofparliament.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:27 PM
If you're interested in Scottish national identity, eighteenth-century fashion, and/or women in politics, you may be interested in the paper I'm presenting at the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar next Tuesday. Best of all, it's online!
#eighteenthcentury #womenshistory #Scottishhistory
#eighteenthcentury #womenshistory #Scottishhistory
Reposted by Martin Spychal
Members of the Victorian Commons team will be on the #HistParl stand from 11-11:45 and 2-2:45 for all your 19th century history needs, and other brilliant colleagues will also be on hand throughout the day!
Come and say hello to the #HistParl team at History Day next week! We're excited to talk about our research and catch up with new and old friends working in the sector.
Find out more via @ihr.bsky.social #HistDay25
Find out more via @ihr.bsky.social #HistDay25
1 week to go until History Day - don't forget to sign up! Read about why History Day is such a fantastic event in this blog by Claire Langhamer: buff.ly/ySfBuWR
#HistDay25 @senatehouselib.bsky.social
#HistDay25 @senatehouselib.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Members of the Victorian Commons team will be on the #HistParl stand from 11-11:45 and 2-2:45 for all your 19th century history needs, and other brilliant colleagues will also be on hand throughout the day!
Reposted by Martin Spychal
Ready and waiting to meet people at #HistDay25.
November 4, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Ready and waiting to meet people at #HistDay25.
Reposted by Martin Spychal
I enjoyed chairing the brilliant @satisfactory20.bsky.social for her seminar yesterday, which featured the fascinating history of this 'suffragette chain' and lots more. Thanks for a great paper Mari!
My new blogpost for @histparl.bsky.social on ‘The Speakers and the Suffragettes’ is now up! Do read historyofparliament.com/2025/10/21/t...
The Speakers and the Suffragettes - The History of Parliament
At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 28 October, Dr Mari Takayanagi will be discussing ‘The Speakers and the Suffragettes’.
historyofparliament.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:31 AM
I enjoyed chairing the brilliant @satisfactory20.bsky.social for her seminar yesterday, which featured the fascinating history of this 'suffragette chain' and lots more. Thanks for a great paper Mari!
Reposted by Martin Spychal
There is still time to book for what promises to be a great talk by @satisfactory20.bsky.social - join us at 5:30 tomorrow (Tues) in person or online.
Looking forward to the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar on 28 October. Dr Mari Takayanagi @satisfactory20.bsky.social will be sharing new research, inc. a recently discovered ‘suffragette chain’. FREE in-person in London & online. More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/21/t...
The Speakers and the Suffragettes - The History of Parliament
At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 28 October, Dr Mari Takayanagi will be discussing ‘The Speakers and the Suffragettes’.
historyofparliament.com
October 27, 2025 at 6:59 PM
There is still time to book for what promises to be a great talk by @satisfactory20.bsky.social - join us at 5:30 tomorrow (Tues) in person or online.
Reposted by Martin Spychal
Looking forward to the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar on 28 October. Dr Mari Takayanagi @satisfactory20.bsky.social will be sharing new research, inc. a recently discovered ‘suffragette chain’. FREE in-person in London & online. More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/21/t...
The Speakers and the Suffragettes - The History of Parliament
At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 28 October, Dr Mari Takayanagi will be discussing ‘The Speakers and the Suffragettes’.
historyofparliament.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Looking forward to the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar on 28 October. Dr Mari Takayanagi @satisfactory20.bsky.social will be sharing new research, inc. a recently discovered ‘suffragette chain’. FREE in-person in London & online. More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/21/t...
Looking forward to the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar on 28 October. Dr Mari Takayanagi @satisfactory20.bsky.social will be sharing new research, inc. a recently discovered ‘suffragette chain’. FREE in-person in London & online. More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/21/t...
The Speakers and the Suffragettes - The History of Parliament
At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 28 October, Dr Mari Takayanagi will be discussing ‘The Speakers and the Suffragettes’.
historyofparliament.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Looking forward to the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar on 28 October. Dr Mari Takayanagi @satisfactory20.bsky.social will be sharing new research, inc. a recently discovered ‘suffragette chain’. FREE in-person in London & online. More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/21/t...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
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.
October 16, 2025 at 5:21 PM
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.
Reposted by Martin Spychal
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.’
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
October 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM
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.’
Reposted by Martin Spychal
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
September 22, 2025 at 12:09 PM
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...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
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
September 20, 2025 at 1:21 PM
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...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
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...
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
August 22, 2025 at 6:44 AM
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...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
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
August 11, 2025 at 11:24 AM
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]
Reposted by Martin Spychal
#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
August 8, 2025 at 8:38 AM
#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...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
🧵(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
August 6, 2025 at 7:30 AM
🧵(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
Reposted by Martin Spychal
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
July 10, 2025 at 9:04 AM
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...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
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
July 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM
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...