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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 11h

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 · 1d

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…

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 1d

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

Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 2d

During our research we’ve found several places named after MPs (see our post: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/w... ) One of them is Cape Adare, home to a penguin colony, named after Viscount Adare, Conservative MP for Glamorgan. Later 3rd Earl of Dunraven, he died #OnThisDay 1871.

What’s in a name? Part 1: places

What do the following have in common: the site of the world’s largest Adélie penguin colony, one of Cape Town’s main streets and a car park in northern France? The curious answer is that they are a…

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 3d

A surprising number of the MPs in our 1832-68 project came from humble backgrounds. John Rolt, born #OnThisDay 1804, began his working life as a draper’s apprentice. Find out more about his rise to the position of attorney-general here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2017/10/23/f...

From draper’s apprentice to attorney-general: Sir John Rolt and the 1867 Reform Act

With this year marking the 150th anniversary of the passing of the Second Reform Act, our MP of the Month is one of the lesser known architects of this measure, the attorney-general, Sir John Rolt,…

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 4d

Born #OnThisDay 1788 Thomas Barrett Lennard, MP for Maldon, who combined some progressive views, notably on capital and corporal punishment, with an attachment to established traditions. Find out more about his parliamentary career here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2020/08/25/m...

MP of the Month: Thomas Barrett Lennard (1788-1856)

Thomas Barrett Lennard’s career neatly captures some of the oddities and contradictions of early Victorian politics, especially the survival of older attitudes and beliefs alongside the emerg…

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 5d

Continuing with P in our #1832AtoZ we are looking at Prorogation – the ending of a parliamentary session – and how this power was used during the 19th century. Find out more here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2019/09/04/p...

Political Prorogations: a view from the Victorian Commons

It’s been a long time since the business of suspending Parliament and starting a new session has generated so much political controversy. Throughout most of the 20th century prorogations inva…

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 6d

Died #OnThisDay 1842 John Hodson Kearsley. Conservative MP for Wigan in the 1830s, he was a well-known Commons character. Find out more about the man nicknamed ‘the Walking Beer Barrel’ in our short article: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2024/09/18/t...

The Walking Beer Barrel: John Hodson Kearsley and parliamentary debates in the 1830s

Our latest blog from our Assistant Editor Dr Kathryn Rix uses our biography of the Wigan MP John Hodson Kearsley – a forgotten figure today but a well-known Commons character in his time – to explo…

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 7d

Sounds interesting. Here in the Victorian Commons team we will be working on a range of constituencies, including Canterbury, Hull, Tower Hamlets and Windsor.

The Georgian Lords @georgianlords.bsky.social · 7d

It's the dawn of a new reporting period here at @histparl.bsky.social.
Over at the Georgian Lords expect to hear more about the ruined bibliophile, Edward Harley, 2nd earl of Oxford, and the 4th earl of Gainsborough, who was able to persuade Handel to write some numbers for a family amateur masque.

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 7d

For #LincolnshireDay here’s one of our articles about a Lincolnshire resident, Sir Robert Heron, of Stubton Hall (MP Grimsby 1812-18, Peterborough 1819-47). He kept a diary (a useful source for historians) and a menagerie of exotic animals. victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2013/04/19/m...

MP of the Month: Sir Robert Heron (1765-1854)

For historians of the Victorian House of Commons, there is perhaps no richer source for throwing light on the political personalities of the day than the journals and diaries of nineteenth-century …

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 8d

Born #OnThisDay 1800 the architect Decimus Burton, whose projects included many prestigious London buildings. He also planned the new town of Fleetwood, which was funded by and named after a Victorian MP. Find out more here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2020/04/15/t...

The MP who founded a town: Sir Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood (1801-66)

Over the past few years, we have highlighted several MPs who, quite apart from their involvement in parliamentary debates and legislation, had a significant personal role in the development of the …

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 9d

A reminder of our September article on the Victorian Commons, which looked at the reporters' gallery in the 19thC Commons. Charles Dickens was among its occupants and the refreshments included 'a bottle of whisky' and 'a most nauseous-looking ham’.
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…

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 10d

Today is the anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Clock Tower (now the Elizabeth Tower) at the Houses of Parliament. Find out more about the 15 year old who wielded this ceremonial trowel in 1843: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2020/06/11/f...

From Rochdale to Westminster: Emily Kelsall and the new Houses of Parliament

This post from our assistant editor Dr Kathryn Rix was first published on the Parliamentary Archives: Inside the Act Room blog, which has many more articles to read on parliamentary history, from t…

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

Today we are celebrating #Railway200, as 200 years ago, #OTD 1825, the Stockton & Darlington Railway opened.

To mark this milestone, we thought we’d look at some of the ways Parliament and the railways have intersected in the last 200 years: (🧵 1/6)
@victoriancommons.bsky.social

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 12d

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.

Head and shoulders portrait of a man. He is balding and has a white beard. He is dressed in black, but has a red handkerchief peeping out of his jacket pocket.

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Mark Crail @markcrail.bsky.social · 13d

Helen Macfarlane, Chartist journalist, translator, and witness to the revolutions of 1848, was born #OnThisDay 25 September 1818
www.chartistancestors.co.uk/helen-macfar...

Helen Macfarlane 1818 - 1860 - chartist ancestors

Helen Macfarlane was the first translator of the Communist Manifesto into English - and was probably the most influential woman in Chartism. This is her life story

www.chartistancestors.co.uk

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The Georgian Lords @georgianlords.bsky.social · 13d

Next month @histparl.bsky.social will leave its home in Bloomsbury Square after almost 20 years. Robin Eagles used this as an opportunity to reflect on the history of the square, which witnessed one of the most violent episodes in London's history:
historyofparliament.com/2025/06/05/b...

Bloomsbury Square and the Gordon Riots - The History of Parliament

For almost 20 years, Bloomsbury Square has been the home to the History of Parliament. In the latest post for the Georgian Lords, Dr Robin Eagles considers

historyofparliament.com

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 14d

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.

A statue of a man wearing robes. It is sitting on a large plinth, outside a modern red brick building.

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Claire Langhamer @clairelanghamer.bsky.social · 16d

Very much this. The IHR really is open to everyone and this includes our common room and our library as well as our wonderful seminars. All free, all welcome!

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 16d

History curious? You don't need to be in London (or the UK) to attend many Institute of Historical Research seminars, although if you're in Bloomsbury you'll enjoy doing so. Most are hybrid (online/in person). They're free, usually fortnightly and open to the public.

Starting this week:

Events

Stay up to date with the upcoming events organised or hosted by the Institute of Historical Research

www.history.ac.uk

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 16d

We are adding this to our 'to read' list: Lady Charlotte was the wife of not one but two of our 19thC MPs, and her diaries have been an excellent source for our research.

Dr Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth @carolinemccaff.bsky.social · 16d

Really chuffed with this review of my new book! @theartnewspaper.bsky.social www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/09/02/t...

The 19th-century heiress whose avid collecting was just part of a rich, scholarly life

The exceptional legacy of Lady Charlotte Schreiber, best known for her scholarly collecting of ceramics, is explored in a new biography

www.theartnewspaper.com

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 16d

Great to see our colleague Robin Eagles sharing his immense expertise on Wilkes.

The Georgian Lords @georgianlords.bsky.social · 16d

Robin Eagles of @histparl.bsky.social has a piece in the latest edition of @historytoday.com on John Wilkes, whose 300th birthday is coming up in October.
#WilkesandLiberty #HistParl

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Political Studies Association @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social · 16d

*PSA OPPORTUNITY* 🚨 Final Reminder 🚨 House of Commons internship opportunity. For PSA #EarlyCareer Network members who are currently studying towards their #PhD.
📆 Apply by 28 September 2025
➡️ Full details buff.ly/VsvdQQD
#Politics #Opportunity #PoliticalStudies

2025 House of Commons Internship | The Political Studies Association (PSA)

Become a member Log in

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 16d

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 · 18d

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…

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 19d

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.

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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 20d

As famous in his day as Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Robert Stephenson, Joseph Locke, who died #OnThisDay 1860, was a leading railway engineer. He was also an MP, sitting for Honiton, 1847-60. Find out more about his dual careers in our article: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2018/04/24/m...

MP of the Month: Joseph Locke (1805-1860)

Our Victorian MP of the Month is Joseph Locke (1805-1860), who represented Honiton from 1847 until his death. With Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859) and Robert Stephenson (1803-1859), Locke forme…

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