Victorian Commons
@victoriancommons.bsky.social
The History of Parliament's House of Commons 1832-1945 project, currently researching MPs, elections and parliamentary history between 1832 and 1868. Find more details on our website: https://victoriancommons.wordpress.com/
Died #OnThisDay in 1877, aged 42, Hon. Augustus Anson, awarded the Victoria Cross in 1857 while serving with the army in India. He was Liberal MP for Lichfield 1859-68, and Bewdley 1869-74, and spoke on military matters in the Commons.
November 17, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Died #OnThisDay in 1877, aged 42, Hon. Augustus Anson, awarded the Victoria Cross in 1857 while serving with the army in India. He was Liberal MP for Lichfield 1859-68, and Bewdley 1869-74, and spoke on military matters in the Commons.
Ready and waiting to meet people at #HistDay25.
November 4, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Ready and waiting to meet people at #HistDay25.
Just one new parliamentary borough was created between the 1832 and 1867 Reform Acts: Birkenhead, enfranchised in 1861. Fittingly, its first MP was the major local shipbuilder John Laird, elected in December 1861, who represented it until his death #OnThisDay in 1874.
October 29, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Just one new parliamentary borough was created between the 1832 and 1867 Reform Acts: Birkenhead, enfranchised in 1861. Fittingly, its first MP was the major local shipbuilder John Laird, elected in December 1861, who represented it until his death #OnThisDay in 1874.
Moving in day at the new office for @histparl.bsky.social. Lots of unpacking has happened.
October 21, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Moving in day at the new office for @histparl.bsky.social. Lots of unpacking has happened.
Died #OnThisday 1865 Lord Palmerston, during his second term as Prime Minister. As his title was an Irish peerage, he was eligible to sit in the Commons. He was MP for Newport (IOW) 1807-11, Cambridge University, 1811-31, Bletchingley 1831-2, Hants S 1832-5, & Tiverton 1835-65.
October 18, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Died #OnThisday 1865 Lord Palmerston, during his second term as Prime Minister. As his title was an Irish peerage, he was eligible to sit in the Commons. He was MP for Newport (IOW) 1807-11, Cambridge University, 1811-31, Bletchingley 1831-2, Hants S 1832-5, & Tiverton 1835-65.
Due to unforeseen circumstances we were late to this party, but the Victorian Commons team duly raise a glass to Wilkes and Liberty!
October 17, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Due to unforeseen circumstances we were late to this party, but the Victorian Commons team duly raise a glass to Wilkes and Liberty!
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.
Born #OnThisDay 1819 Edward William Watkin, Liberal MP for Great Yarmouth 1857, Stockport 1864-8 (& later MP for Hythe). He was a major railway entrepreneur & made a failed attempt to extend his network to France with a Channel Tunnel.
September 26, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Born #OnThisDay 1819 Edward William Watkin, Liberal MP for Great Yarmouth 1857, Stockport 1864-8 (& later MP for Hythe). He was a major railway entrepreneur & made a failed attempt to extend his network to France with a Channel Tunnel.
For #CumberlandDay here is a memorial to Francis Aglionby, MP for East Cumberland, 1837-40. He died while entering court to attend the Cumberland quarter sessions - of which he was chairman - in 1840. This statue (since moved from its original location) was erected 3 years later in Carlisle.
September 24, 2025 at 12:57 PM
For #CumberlandDay here is a memorial to Francis Aglionby, MP for East Cumberland, 1837-40. He died while entering court to attend the Cumberland quarter sessions - of which he was chairman - in 1840. This statue (since moved from its original location) was erected 3 years later in Carlisle.
Born #OnThisDay 1787 Charles Langdale, Liberal MP Beverley 1832-5 & Knaresborough 1837-41. One of the earliest Catholic MPs, he was a prominent spokesman for his faith and took a particular interest in education. He died in 1868.
September 19, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Born #OnThisDay 1787 Charles Langdale, Liberal MP Beverley 1832-5 & Knaresborough 1837-41. One of the earliest Catholic MPs, he was a prominent spokesman for his faith and took a particular interest in education. He died in 1868.
Current research in the Victorian Commons office: the Shropshire borough of Wenlock, home to the Wenlock Olympian Games, founded in 1850. It had a very unusual constituency boundary.
September 11, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Current research in the Victorian Commons office: the Shropshire borough of Wenlock, home to the Wenlock Olympian Games, founded in 1850. It had a very unusual constituency boundary.
Born #OnThisDay 1819 William Henry Fitzroy, who as Earl of Euston sat as MP for Thetford, 1847-63, ‘unpledged to any particular party, though favouring Liberal views’. Like many family members, he had a passion for horseracing and hunting.
August 5, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Born #OnThisDay 1819 William Henry Fitzroy, who as Earl of Euston sat as MP for Thetford, 1847-63, ‘unpledged to any particular party, though favouring Liberal views’. Like many family members, he had a passion for horseracing and hunting.
Among those featured on this site is the Liberal MP David Ochterlony Dyce Sombre, who represented Sudbury, 1841-2, but was unseated for bribery.
August 5, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Among those featured on this site is the Liberal MP David Ochterlony Dyce Sombre, who represented Sudbury, 1841-2, but was unseated for bribery.
Born #OnThisDay 1819 Melville Portal, Conservative MP for North Hampshire 1849-57. The Portal family of Laverstoke were paper manufacturers & held the contract to make paper for the Bank of England’s notes from 1724. Image credit: Hampshire County Council's Fine Art Collection.
July 31, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Born #OnThisDay 1819 Melville Portal, Conservative MP for North Hampshire 1849-57. The Portal family of Laverstoke were paper manufacturers & held the contract to make paper for the Bank of England’s notes from 1724. Image credit: Hampshire County Council's Fine Art Collection.
Born #OnThisDay 1790 Henry Cecil Lowther, Tory MP Westmorland, 1812-67. A talented cricketer, he was described in later life as ‘a tall man with a white beard and remarkably red face’. He was ‘Father of the House’ when he died in 1867.
July 27, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Born #OnThisDay 1790 Henry Cecil Lowther, Tory MP Westmorland, 1812-67. A talented cricketer, he was described in later life as ‘a tall man with a white beard and remarkably red face’. He was ‘Father of the House’ when he died in 1867.
We were about to send you a link to the (allegedly) Gladstone-endorsed electropathic belt, but then we realised you meant modern day adverts!
July 11, 2025 at 12:32 PM
We were about to send you a link to the (allegedly) Gladstone-endorsed electropathic belt, but then we realised you meant modern day adverts!
Our Victorian Commons website is 13 years old today! We have well over 300 articles to read on 19th century British history, looking at elections, MPs, Parliament and lots more: victoriancommons.wordpress.com
July 11, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Our Victorian Commons website is 13 years old today! We have well over 300 articles to read on 19th century British history, looking at elections, MPs, Parliament and lots more: victoriancommons.wordpress.com
#OnThisDay 1842 the House of Commons debated the new poor law, introduced in 1834. The Oldham MP John Fielden made an impassioned speech against it and highlighted the substantial number of petitions opposing it. api.parliament.uk/historic-han... The image shows an 1835 design for a workhouse.
June 27, 2025 at 8:22 AM
#OnThisDay 1842 the House of Commons debated the new poor law, introduced in 1834. The Oldham MP John Fielden made an impassioned speech against it and highlighted the substantial number of petitions opposing it. api.parliament.uk/historic-han... The image shows an 1835 design for a workhouse.
A speech which takes up 54 columns of Hansard. Here are the concluding sentences:
June 25, 2025 at 8:58 AM
A speech which takes up 54 columns of Hansard. Here are the concluding sentences:
William IV died in the early hours of the morning of 20 June 1837. Later that day the House of Commons and the House of Lords both assembled so that peers and MPs could take the oaths of allegiance to the new monarch, Queen Victoria.
June 20, 2025 at 9:12 AM
William IV died in the early hours of the morning of 20 June 1837. Later that day the House of Commons and the House of Lords both assembled so that peers and MPs could take the oaths of allegiance to the new monarch, Queen Victoria.
#OnThisDay 1841 Lord Melbourne’s ministry lost a critical vote of confidence in the House of Commons, being defeated by just one vote. api.parliament.uk/historic-han... Parliament was dissolved later that month and a general election took place.
June 4, 2025 at 7:55 AM
#OnThisDay 1841 Lord Melbourne’s ministry lost a critical vote of confidence in the House of Commons, being defeated by just one vote. api.parliament.uk/historic-han... Parliament was dissolved later that month and a general election took place.
Died #OnThisDay 1878 Earl Russell (who sat in the Commons as Lord John Russell, latterly for City of London, 1841-61). A key figure in the passing of the 1832 Reform Act; made several failed attempts at further parliamentary reform. Twice Liberal prime minister, 1846-52, 1865-6.
May 28, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Died #OnThisDay 1878 Earl Russell (who sat in the Commons as Lord John Russell, latterly for City of London, 1841-61). A key figure in the passing of the 1832 Reform Act; made several failed attempts at further parliamentary reform. Twice Liberal prime minister, 1846-52, 1865-6.
Died #OnThisDay 1872 William Marshall, Liberal MP for various constituencies, including Carlisle 1835-47, Cumberland East 1847-68. Derided by the Northern Star in 1841 as ‘one of the most useless members that sits in the House of Commons, capable of nothing but discussing wine and walnuts’.
May 16, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Died #OnThisDay 1872 William Marshall, Liberal MP for various constituencies, including Carlisle 1835-47, Cumberland East 1847-68. Derided by the Northern Star in 1841 as ‘one of the most useless members that sits in the House of Commons, capable of nothing but discussing wine and walnuts’.
#OnThisDay 1850 the Commons rejected a motion put forward by the protectionist MP Grantley Berkeley to consider reinstating the corn laws, which had been repealed in 1846. Disraeli spoke & voted in support of the motion. api.parliament.uk/historic-han...
May 14, 2025 at 11:51 AM
#OnThisDay 1850 the Commons rejected a motion put forward by the protectionist MP Grantley Berkeley to consider reinstating the corn laws, which had been repealed in 1846. Disraeli spoke & voted in support of the motion. api.parliament.uk/historic-han...
Latest research in the @victoriancommons.bsky.social office: Richard Watson, Whig MP for Canterbury, 1830-5, and Peterborough, 1852, described by Charles Dickens as a 'good liberal' with 'not the least nonsense about him'. Dickens dedicated David Copperfield to Watson and his wife Lavinia.
May 13, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Latest research in the @victoriancommons.bsky.social office: Richard Watson, Whig MP for Canterbury, 1830-5, and Peterborough, 1852, described by Charles Dickens as a 'good liberal' with 'not the least nonsense about him'. Dickens dedicated David Copperfield to Watson and his wife Lavinia.