Happy St George's Day!
Back in 1642, Charles I invited leading peers to join him for Easter and the feast of St George in York. However, as Dr Vivienne Larmine explores in an article for #HistParl, this invitation was potentially costly to ignore.
John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville was born on this day in 1690.
A favourite of George II, the king turned to Granville and William Pulteney, earl of Bath, to form a new government in 1746. However, it only lasted three days.
Find out more below.
A head and shoulders drawing of a woman. She has dark hair which is tied back. She is wearing a dark coloured garment with a white lace collar.
Charlotte Brontë was born #OnThisDay 210 years ago. In June 1850 she visited the Ladies' Gallery of the House of Commons to listen to MPs debating, as featured in our article:
victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2024/03/08/t...
Although now able to affirm, before the late 19th century members of the House of Commons and Lords were required to swear an oath of allegiance to the Crown.
As Dr Kathryn Rix explores, this posed a problem for Joseph Pease, whose religion precluded him from being able to take oaths.
For #NationalTeaDay ☕️ we are resharing a blog by former #HistParl director Paul Seaward on Bellamy's, a prime tea-drinking spot in Parliament in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Inspied by the success of the Artemis II mission, @jhdavey.bsky.social has delved into Hansard to find out how Parliamentarians have marked and celebrated space travel over the last sixty years.
Find our more via the link to our substack 'Scribble Book'!
On 19 April 1881 Benjamin Disraeli died. Twice Conservative Prime Minister, Disraeli has often been associated with ‘One Nation’ Conservatism.
Read Dr Henry Miller’s article for #HistParl to find out more about what this meant and its impact.
The 1922 Committee was established 104 years ago today.
Originally set up to facilitate cooperation within the Conservative Party, it has since become of its most important internal committees.
Find out more about its work and the memories of those who have served on it.
@emmapeplow.bsky.social
Today marks 111 years since John Joseph Esmonde, MP for North Tipperary, died whilst serving in the First World War.
In an article for #HistParl, Dr Kathryn Rix reflected on his life and career as one of the few medical doctors in the Commons.
Sir Teddy Taylor, Conservative MP for Glasgow Cathart and Southend East (later Rochford and Southend East) was born 89 years ago today.
Taylor was one of the ‘Maastricht Rebels’, voting against John Major’s bill to implement the Maastricht agreement.
Find out more via our oral history interview:
Later this month we will have a new article from @martinspychal.bsky.social as part of his series on Peter McLagan, Scotland's first Black MP. Here's a reminder of Martin's first article on McLagan and the process of researching his background: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/06/12/p...
Fascinating stuff.
The #HouseofLords, often in the shadow of the Commons, asserted its power during the reigns of James I and Charles I. But it would be eclipsed by #civilwar.
⌛️ Last chance to read this archive article for free
www.historytoday.com/archive/feat...
The Parliament of 1523, which opened on this day 503 years ago, is the subject of the earliest near-contemporary image of Parliament.
However, as Dr Paul Hunneyball has explored in an article for #HistParl, its depiction is not entirely accurate.
Congratulations to #HistParl colleague Dr Naomi Lloyd-Jones, who has edited a special issue of Parliamentary History!
All the artilces are free to read here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17500206...
A woman wearing a pink jumper is holding a copy of a book in front of her to display the cover. She looks happy.
Great excitement in the #HistParl office as our research fellow Dr Naomi Lloyd-Jones gets her hands on a print copy of her special issue of Parliamentary History. It's currently free to access online here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17500206...
On 14 April 1471, a crucial battle in the Wars of the Roses was fought in Barnet.
Find out more about the battle and its impact via Dr Simon Payling's article for #HistParl.
This is a very interesting read, and the story of horses and politics continues with our own 19th century take: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2023/02/10/t...
In case you missed it, in the latest entry for 'Scribble Book', @jhdavey.bsky.social has explored some of the notable individuals who have served as Clerk of the Parliaments in the role's 700 year history.
Click the link below to read and subscribe!
substack.com/home/post/p-...
On 12 April 1866 Sir Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood, MP for Preston 1832-47, died.
He is most well-known today for founding and giving his name to the seaside town of Fleetwood in Lancashire. Find out more about his career and legacy via this article by Dr Kathryn Rix for @victoriancommons.bsky.social.
On 10 April 1998, the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was signed, a major development in the Northern Ireland peace process. One of the crucial figures in the agreement was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Mo Mowlam.
Read Dr Emma Peplow's article for more on Mowlam's impact.
299 years ago, Parliament was prorogued following the discovery of a loop-hole in the Act of Union, which was due to come into force on 1 May.
Read Dr Stuart Handley's article for #HistParl, exploring the so-called 'Tobacco Fraud' of April 1707.
446 years ago, the South East of England was struck by the earthquake in two hundred years.
Read Dr Andrew Thrush's article for #HistParl on the earthquake, why citizens thought it happened, and how they responded to it.
On 3 April 1721, Robert Walpole became First Lord of the Treasury.
Read Dr Robin Eagles' article for #HistParl to find out more about Walpole's rise to power.
As the last of the hereditary peers prepare to depart the House of Lords, with some of them may also go hand-me-down robes, worn by generations before them.
Dr Robin Eagles for @georgianlords.bsky.social considers the symbolism of those robes worn by members of the Lords.
On 31 March 1657, the Second Protectorate Parliament presented the Humble Petition and Advice, offering the British throne to Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell. However, Cromwell would ultimately decline the offer.
In the latest post for Scribble Book, @jhdavey.bsky.social gives a round up of Women's History Month.
Read and subscribe via the link below!
#WomensHistoryMonth is also the subject of the latest 'Scribble Book' post from our director @jhdavey.bsky.social: historyofparliament.substack.com/p/womens-his...
