TheVictorianCommons

George Henry Seymour, who was born #OnThisDay 1818, had a lengthy naval career, including a stint as captain of the royal yacht, before he became an MP in 1865. Find out more about him here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/mp-…

Isaiah Silvers's article on associational politics in Barbados during the early nineteenth century is currently free to read online! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.11…

Happy #StPatricksDay On this day in 1835 there was ‘a very large attendance’ of MPs in the Commons, including the leading Irish MP Daniel O’Connell ‘wearing a large bunch of shamrock’. For more on some of the Irish MPs we have researched, see victoriancommons.wordpress.com/category/irela…

Unlike today, it has not always been as easy to know what exactly is debated in Parliament. For @GeorgianLords, Dr Charles Littleton explores an example of how someone in the 18th century could keep up with proceedings, without being in the chamber. historyofparliament.com/2026/03/17/dr-…

You can read the introduction of our guest editor Naomi Lloyd-Jones (@HistParl @TheVictCommons) to our 2026 special issue here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.11…

England’s last political duel also involved two MPs, Frederick Romilly and George Smythe, who met near Weybridge on 20 May 1852. Find out what unfolded here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/07/10/a-n…

#OnThisDay 1844 the Commons discussed the abolition of duelling. Four duels were said to have been fought in Britain in 1839 and four in 1840: api.parliament.uk/historic-hansa… One of the duels fought in 1840 was between two MPs, Edward Horsman and James Bradshaw.

The Whig prime minister Earl Grey was born #OnThisDay 1764. This short article from our editor Philip Salmon explores the formation of his ministry in November 1830. historyofparliamentonline.org/periods/modern…

It may appear strange today that a member of the House of Lords could serve as Prime Minister. However, as @kathrynrix.bsky.social has explored in a new article, the 19th century saw more Prime Ministers leading from the Lords than the Commons. historyofparliament.com/2026/03/12/pri…

George Faithfull, one of Brighton’s first MPs (1832-5), died #OnThisDay 1863. For #WomensHistoryMonth, find out more about his valiant but unsuccessful efforts to defend the rights of women to vote in Brighton’s local elections. victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2013/06/19/mp-…

Elizabeth, Marchioness Conyngham, is best known as the final mistress of George IV. However, as Dr Naomi Lloyd-Jones explores below, her electioneering activity offers an example of the behind-the-scenes roles women could play during the 19th century. historyofparliament.com/2026/02/26/the…

Dr Sarah Wride will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on 'Re-Membering the Medieval Parliament, 1769-1886'. 📍 Senate House, London / Online 🗓️Tuesday 17 March 2026 ⏱️5:30-6:30pm Find out more and how to attend below. historyofparliament.com/2026/03/10/re-…

Athlete, arboriculturist, philanthropist, teacher, poet … and MP – find out more here about the varied career of William Henry Hyett, who died #OnThisDay 1877: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/so-…

Finally, here’s one of our series on Harriet Grote, a prominent figure among London’s intellectual radicals, who ‘had she been a man, she would have been the leader of a party’: #IWD" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2021/01/04/had… #WHM

Our assistant editor has explored the facilities provided for women to view debates in the temporary House of Commons chamber used after the 1834 fire. Visitors included Charlotte Brontë: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/30/the…

For #InternationalWomensDay we are sharing some of our favourite research on women’s participation in 19thC politics.

Did you know that a former Scottish Rugby captain sat in the House of Commons? With Scotland taking the field against France later today in the #SixNations, Dr Kathryn Rix explores the sporting and political career of Pat Munro MP. historyofparliament.com/2026/03/02/pat…

#OnThisDay 1866 the Commons passed the second reading of a bill for the abolition of church rates. Percy Wyndham, who had accidentally been locked out of the division lobby, was allowed by the Speaker to have his vote counted with the Noes: hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1866-0…

For #WomensHistoryMonth we are looking back at this guest article from Prof Sarah Richardson on women’s right to vote at local elections during the 19th century. victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/the…