Category: Legal history

Georgian Lords, 17th Century history, 18th Century history, Elections, Legal history

“Get a haircut”Celebrating the career of Lord Chancellor Cowper

10 May 2023 marked the 300th anniversary of the death of William Cowper, Earl Cowper, a rarity among political lawyers in that he served two terms as lord chancellor. Currently, the History of Parliament has two published accounts of his career, one covering the period when he was a member of the House of Commons, and one covering the House of Lords under Queen Anne. … Continue reading “Get a haircut”Celebrating the career of Lord Chancellor Cowper

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Factions, Georgian, Legal history, Military history, Parties, Slavery, Social history

The earl of Abingdon and the treatment of American prisoners of war

In the latest post for the Georgian Lords, Dr Robin Eagles highlights the career of one of the House’s more eccentric orators: Willoughby Bertie, 4th earl of Abingdon: musician, breeder of champion race-horses and radical politician concerned about corruption at the top and the treatment of prisoners. The 4th earl of Abingdon, is probably best known as one of the 18th century’s more talented amateur … Continue reading The earl of Abingdon and the treatment of American prisoners of war

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Georgian, 17th Century history, 18th Century history, 19th Century history, Legal history, Social history, Victorian

Soft power and stigma: Illegitimate children and the History of Parliament

In 2022, Kate Gibson, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the University of Manchester, published her book Illegitimacy, Family and Stigma in England, 1660-1834. To measure the impact of stigma and disadvantage on children born outside of marriage she utilised the History of Parliament Online. In this blog she explains how the History of Parliament provided her with essential information and her findings on how illegitimacy … Continue reading Soft power and stigma: Illegitimate children and the History of Parliament

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The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Henry VII, History of Parliament Trust, Legal history, Medieval, Religious history, Richard III

A last roll of the dice? Richard III’s pardon to John Morton, 16 August 1485

On 16 August 1485, King Richard III issued a pardon to an old adversary, John Morton, bishop of Ely. Dr Hannes Kleineke, editor of our Commons 1461-1504 project, explores the issue that Morton posed to Richard and why he felt the need to offer Morton such an elaborate pardon. On 9 August 1485 Henry Tudor, titular earl of Richmond, landed on the Welsh coast near Milford Haven … Continue reading A last roll of the dice? Richard III’s pardon to John Morton, 16 August 1485

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, Legal history, Military history, Scottish History

“Take care, or you will break my shins with this damned axe”: The trials of Lords Balmerino, Cromartie and Kilmarnock (Summer 1746)

The summer is normally a period for Parliament to go into recess, and for MPs and members of the Lords to take some time off. On extraordinary occasions, though, Parliament has been known to sit through the summer. As Dr Robin Eagles explains, this was true of 1746 as the government got on with the task of mopping up after the ‘45. Charles Edward Stuart … Continue reading “Take care, or you will break my shins with this damned axe”: The trials of Lords Balmerino, Cromartie and Kilmarnock (Summer 1746)

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, 18th Century history, 19th Century history, 20th century history, Legal history, Modern

Liberalism, the law and Parliament in modern British history

Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Dr Ben Griffin of the University of Cambridge. On 2 May between 5.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m., Ben will discuss the relationship between liberalism, the law and Parliament in modern British history. The seminar takes place on 2 May 2023, between 5:30 and 6.30 p.m. You can attend online via Zoom. Details of … Continue reading Liberalism, the law and Parliament in modern British history

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Elections, Georgian, Legal history, Queen Anne

Parliament’s Committees of Privileges

The House of Commons Committee of Privileges has its origins in 1995 when, in the light of scandals such as ‘cash for questions’, a Committee of Standards and Privileges was established to monitor and regulate the conduct of MPs. In 2012 it was divided into separate committees, one for Standards and the other for Privileges, and the latter has been in the news recently over … Continue reading Parliament’s Committees of Privileges

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Medieval, 14th Century history, Legal history

The capture and execution of Sir Robert Tresilian, chief justice of King’s bench, and the ‘Merciless Parliament’ of 1388

On the 19th February 1388, one of the most dramatic events of medieval parliamentary history took place. Simon Payling from our Commons 1461-1504 project reflects on the capture and execution of Sir Robert Tresilian and the unusual circumstances surrounding it… The appropriately and contemporaneously named ‘Merciless’ Parliament of 1388 was among the most dramatic of medieval Parliaments, and the capture and execution of Sir Robert … Continue reading The capture and execution of Sir Robert Tresilian, chief justice of King’s bench, and the ‘Merciless Parliament’ of 1388

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LGBTQ+ History, 19th Century history, Legal history, Victorian, Victorian Commons

History of Parliament and Excavating Early Queer History

To mark LGBTQ+ History Month 2023, guest blogger Charles Upchurch, Professor of British history at Florida State University, explains how he used the History of Parliament project as a resource when researching his newest book, “Beyond the Law”: The Politics of Ending the Death Penalty for Sodomy in Britain. LGBTQ+ stories are often overlooked within parliamentary history, but Professor Upchurch utilised the History of Parliament … Continue reading History of Parliament and Excavating Early Queer History

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Elections, Georgian, Legal history

How to expel an MP from Parliament: The ejection of John Wilkes in 1764

John Wilkes was well known for treading a fine line in his outspoken comments against the government, but in 1763 Parliament decided he had gone too far. Here Dr Robin Eagles, editor of our House of Lords 1715-1790 project, reflects on the case Parliament built against him and how they finally expelled Wilkes from the Chamber… On 19 November 1763 Colonel Bate, reporting affairs in … Continue reading How to expel an MP from Parliament: The ejection of John Wilkes in 1764

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