Tag: American War of Independence

Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Diplomacy and International Relations, Frederick North, 2nd earl of Guilford, George II, George III, Georgian, History of Parliament Trust, Military history

Putting ‘spirit in the conduct of the war’: the November 1775 government reshuffle

In his last post for the Georgian Lords, From bills to bullets: Spring 1775 and the approach to war in America, on the advent of the American War of Independence, Dr Charles Littleton left things hanging with the prorogation on 26 May 1775. Now, he continues the story into the autumn with the declaration of war and a key government reshuffle. Following the prorogation of … Continue reading Putting ‘spirit in the conduct of the war’: the November 1775 government reshuffle

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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 Lords, 18th Century history, Economic history, Frederick North, 2nd earl of Guilford, Georgian, Parliamentary Life, William Pitt the Younger

Asleep on the job? Prime Minister Lord North 250 years on

Accompanying the publication of a new collection covering 300 years of British Prime Ministers, the book’s editor compiled a list assessing the 55 premiers in order of their significance. Frederick, Lord North, who became Prime Minister in 1770 and is probably best known as the man who lost America, came towards the bottom of the pile at number forty. Dr Robin Eagles reassesses North’s early … Continue reading Asleep on the job? Prime Minister Lord North 250 years on

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Modern, 20th century history

The Commonwealth at 70: From Westminster to the World

Today we celebrate the launch of our new publication, The Commonwealth at 70: From Westminster to the World, which has been edited by our Director, Dr Stephen Roberts and published by St James’s House. Below Stephen tells us what to expect from the content of the book – now available as an e-book (click here)… The Commonwealth at 70: From Westminster to the World commemorates … Continue reading The Commonwealth at 70: From Westminster to the World

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Diplomacy and International Relations, Economic history, Georgian

“Contrary to the fundamental laws of nature”? The passage of the Declaratory Act, March 1766

250 years ago this week Parliament passed the ‘Declaratory Act’, aimed at limiting the damage of the earlier repeal of the Stamp Act. In the second of two blogs on the issue, Dr Robin Eagles, Senior Research Fellow in the House of Lords 1660-1832 section, discusses the debates on the issue – whether the British parliament could, in principle, tax its colonies when they did … Continue reading “Contrary to the fundamental laws of nature”? The passage of the Declaratory Act, March 1766

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Georgian, 18th Century history, 19th Century history, George III, Parties, William Pitt the Younger

‘The Story of Parliament’: Pitt and Fox

Last year the History published ‘The Story of Parliament: Celebrating 750 years of parliament in Britain’ to mark the anniversary of Simon de Montfort’s parliament in 1265. The book is a brief introduction to the full 750 years of parliamentary history, aimed at the general reader, and available to purchase from the Houses of Parliament bookshop. On this blog we are publishing some tasters of … Continue reading ‘The Story of Parliament’: Pitt and Fox

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Economic history, George Grenville, Georgian, Social history, William Pitt the Elder

‘Very grievous and unconstitutional’? The repeal of the (American) Stamp Act (1766)

250 years ago this month Parliament was debating the fate of the Stamp Act – the law which proved dangerously unpopular in Britain’s American colonies. In the first of two blogs on the issue, Dr Robin Eagles, Senior Research Fellow in the House of Lords 1660-1832 section, discusses the Act’s history and the debates over its repeal… January 1766 ought in many ways to have … Continue reading ‘Very grievous and unconstitutional’? The repeal of the (American) Stamp Act (1766)

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Georgian, 18th Century history, Diplomacy and International Relations, Frederick North, 2nd earl of Guilford, Military history

The House of Commons and Foreign Policy: Lord North and Yorktown

During this afternoon’s Prime Minister’s Questions the fall-out from last Thursday’s dramatic Commons vote on Syria continued. David Cameron admitted that he regretted the outcome of the vote but, once again, ruled out any British military involvement in Syria against the expressed will of the House.  The consequences of the vote, and whether it has fundamentally changed how the UK government takes decisions about military … Continue reading The House of Commons and Foreign Policy: Lord North and Yorktown

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