Second Melbourne ministry
The Second Melbourne ministry was formed in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland by the Viscount Melbourne in 1835.
History
Lord Melbourne's second government came to power after Sir Robert Peel's minority government resigned in 1835. Lord Palmerston returned as Foreign Secretary while Lord John Russell held his first major office as Home Secretary.
In 1837 Queen Victoria succeeded to the throne, and as was usual for a queen regnant, the Royal Household was appointed by the Prime Minister. The young Queen was so attached to her Whig ladies of the bedchamber that after Melbourne's resignation in 1839, she refused to let Sir Robert Peel replace them with Conservative ladies. This was known as the Bedchamber Crisis, and led to Peel's refusal to form a government. Melbourne therefore resumed, and continued in office until the Conservatives finally won a House of Commons majority in the General Election of 1841. He was succeeded by Sir Robert Peel's second government.
1841 votes of no confidence
The 1841 votes of no confidence against the government of Viscount Melbourne were votes of no confidence in the government of William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne which occurred on the 7 June 1841.[1] Melbourne lost the vote by only one vote and dissolved Parliament leading to an election in July 1841. Melbourne lost a second vote of confidence shortly after the election in August, leading to his resignation.
Cabinets
April 1835 – August 1839
| Office | Name | Term |
|---|---|---|
| First Lord of the Treasury | The Viscount Melbourne | April 1835 – August 1839 |
| Lord Chancellor | In Commission | April 1835 – January 1836 |
| The Lord Cottenham | January 1836 – August 1839 | |
| Lord President of the Council | The Marquess of Lansdowne | April 1835 – August 1839 |
| Lord Privy Seal | Viscount Duncannon | April 1835 – August 1839 |
| Home Secretary | The Lord John Russell | April 1835 – August 1839 |
| Foreign Secretary | The Viscount Palmerston | April 1835 – August 1839 |
| Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | The Lord Glenelg | April 1835 – February 1839 |
| The Marquess of Normanby | February–August 1839 | |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | The Lord Auckland | April–September 1835 |
| The Earl of Minto | September 1835 – August 1839 | |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Thomas Spring Rice | April 1835 – August 1839 |
| President of the Board of Trade | Charles Poulett Thomson | April 1835 – August 1839 |
| President of the Board of Control | Sir John Cam Hobhouse, Bt | April 1835 – August 1839 |
| First Commissioner of Woods and Forests | Viscount Duncannon | April 1835 – August 1839 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | The Lord Holland | April 1835 – August 1839 |
| Secretary at War | Viscount Howick | April 1835 – August 1839 |
Notes
- Viscount Duncannon served concurrently as Lord Privy Seal and First Commissioner of Woods and Forests.
August 1839 – September 1841
| Office | Name | Term |
|---|---|---|
| First Lord of the Treasury Leader of the House of Lords | The Viscount Melbourne | August 1839 – September 1841 |
| Lord Chancellor | The Lord Cottenham | August 1839 – September 1841 |
| Lord President of the Council | The Marquess of Lansdowne | August 1839 – September 1841 |
| Lord Privy Seal | Viscount Duncannon | August 1839 – January 1840 |
| The Earl of Clarendon | January 1840 – September 1841 | |
| Home Secretary | The Marquess of Normanby | August 1839 – September 1841 |
| Foreign Secretary | The Viscount Palmerston | August 1839 – September 1841 |
| Secretary of State for War and the Colonies Leader of the House of Commons | The Lord John Russell | August 1839 – September 1841 |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | The Earl of Minto | August 1839 – September 1841 |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Francis Thornhill Baring | August 1839 – September 1841 |
| President of the Board of Trade | Henry Labouchere | August 1839 – September 1841 |
| President of the Board of Control | Sir John Cam Hobhouse | August 1839 – September 1841 |
| First Commissioner of Woods and Forests | Viscount Duncannon | August 1839 – September 1841 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | The Lord Holland | August 1839 – October 1840 |
| The Earl of Clarendon | October 1840 – June 1841 | |
| Sir George Grey, Bt | June–September 1841 | |
| Secretary at War | Thomas Babington Macaulay | August 1839 – September 1841 |
| Chief Secretary for Ireland | Viscount Morpeth | August 1839 – September 1841 |
Notes
- Viscount Duncannon served concurrently as Lord Privy Seal and First Commissioner of Woods and Forests between August 1839 and January 1840.
- Lord Clarendon served concurrently as Lord Privy Seal and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster between October 1840 and June 1841.
List of Ministers
Members of the Cabinet are indicated by bold face.
- Notes
- The Government resigned on 7 May 1839 following a defeat in Parliament. Queen Victoria invited Sir Robert Peel to form a government, who declined. Melbourne resumed in office from 10 May 1839.[2]
- Also Leader of the House of Commons.
- Created Baron Glenelg 8 May 1835.
- Also Leader of the House of Commons.
- Entered the Cabinet 20 February 1839.
- Office merged to become Paymaster-General 1 December 1836.
- Created Baron Vivian 19 August 1841.
- Permanent.
References
- "British parliamentary timeline 1828 - 1900". Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
- "Lord Melbourne (1779 - 1848)". BBC – History. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- C. Cook and B. Keith, British Historical Facts 1830–1900
| Preceded by First Peel ministry |
Government of the United Kingdom 1835–1841 |
Succeeded by Second Peel ministry |
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