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Melbourne & the Death of William IV
Trade Unions had been legal since 1824. Simple bargaining for better wages and conditions was in danger of leading to political, ideological and social groupings their secretiveness became a worry to the government. In 1834 six trade unionists, farm labourers from the Dorset village of Tolpuddle were prosecuted for having administered "illegal oaths". They were convicted and sentenced to transportation for seven years. There was widespread public protest and an enormous trade-union petition - the Tolpuddle Martyrs were pardoned in 1836.
The Municipal Corporations Act was passed in 1835. It set out to reform city and urban government. Councillors would be elected as would mayors and aldermen.
On June 20th 1837 William IV died. Victoria became Queen. Alexandrina Victoria was the daughter of the Duke of Kent and Princess Mary Louisa Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. She was born in 1819 and was only 18 when she came to the throne.
Lord Melbourne |
WILLIAM LAMB, SECOND VISCOUNT MELBOURNE (1779-1848)- Whig MP 1834 and Prime Minister 1835-1841
- Took his father's title when his elder brother died and would perhaps have preferred to have been a poet
- Secretary of State for Ireland in 1828
- ±«Óãtv Secretary in Grey's ministry
- Became Viscount in 1829
- Became Prime Minister in 1834, but resigned soon after due to lack of support
- Prime Minister again from 1835
- Advised and influenced the young Queen Victoria to whom he was very close
- Wanted to resign and hand over to Peel, but the young Victoria would have none of that
- Became her tutor and confidant, writing to her (and she to him) many times each day
- Part of his role was to convince her that Tories were not against her
- Once she had married Prince Albert, there was no need for Melbourne at her side
- Resigned in 1841
- Had a severe stroke in 1842
The Duke of Kent was William IV's younger brother. He had married simply because any child of his marriage was likely to be the future monarch.
PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM IV (CHARLES GREVILLE)
King William the Fourth, if he had been born in a private station, would have passed unobserved through life like millions of other men, looked upon as possessing a good natured and affectionate disposition, but without either elevation of mind or brightness or intellect. During many years of his life the Duke of Clarence was an obscure individual, without consideration, moving in a limited circle, and altogether forgotten by the great world .... The king seemed to be more occupied with the pleasing novelty of his situation, providing for his children, and actively discharging the duties of his high function, than in giving effect to any political opinions ... the roar of the mighty conflict which the Reform Bill brought on filled him with dismay, and very soon with detestation of the principles of which he had unwittingly permitted himself to be the professor and the promotor ....
 
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| 1820 | George III dies
George IV becomes king
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| 1821 | George IV excludes Queen Caroline from the coronation
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| 1822 | Castlereagh commits suicide
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| 1823 | O'Connell forms the Catholic Association
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| 1828 | Wellington becomes Prime Minister
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| 1829 | Metropolitan Police is formed
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| 1830 | George IV dies
William IV becomes king
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| 1833 | Slavery is abolished
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| 1834 | Melbourne becomes Prime Minister
Robert Peel becomes Prime Minister
Tamworth Manifesto is announced
Houses of Parliament are burned down
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| 1835 | Melbourne becomes Prime Minister
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| 1837 | William IV dies
Victoria becomes Queen
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