Leaders of the British Whig Party

This is a list of the Leaders of the British Whig Party. It begins in 1830 as, in the words of J C Sainty, 'it would be misleading to convey the impression that there was in any precise sense a Leader of the Whig Party in the House of Lords before 1830'.[1] Also, Cook & Stevenson, British Historical Facts 1760-1830 have no section for party leaders in either House of Parliament. The section on 'Overall Leaders' gives details of those who were either the Prime Minister or a former Prime Minister who was still in Parliament and leading the Whig Party in the House in which he sat.

Overall Leaders of the Whig Party, 1830–1859

Name Portrait Constituency/Title Took Office Left Office Prime Minister
Earl Grey 2nd Earl Grey 22 November 1830 16 July 1834 Earl Grey 1830-34
Viscount Melbourne 2nd Viscount Melbourne 16 July 1834 23 October 1842 [2] Viscount Melbourne 1834
The Duke of Wellington 1834
Sir Robert Peel 1834-35
Viscount Melbourne 1835-41
Sir Robert Peel 1841-46
VACANT Leader in Lords -The Marquess of Lansdowne
Leader in Commons -Lord John Russell		 23 October 1842 30 June 1846 Sir Robert Peel 1841-46
Lord John Russell City of London 30 June 1846 30 January 1855 Lord John Russell 1846–52
Earl of Derby 1852
Earl of Aberdeen 1852-55
Henry John Temple,
3rd Viscount Palmerston [3]		 Tiverton 6 February 1855 6 June 1859 [4] Viscount Palmerston 1855-1858
Earl of Derby 1858-59

Leaders of the Whig Party in the House of Commons, 1830–1859

Name Constituency Took Office Left Office
Viscount Althorp Northamptonshire (1830–1832);
South Northamptonshire (1832–1834)		 March 1830 November 1834 [5]
Lord John Russell Devonshire South (1834–1835);
Stroud (1835–1841);
City of London (1841–1855)		 November 1834 February 1855 [5]
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston Tiverton February 1855 June 1859 [4][5]

Leaders of the Whig Party in the House of Lords, 1830–1859

Name Took Office Left Office
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey November 1830 July 1834 [1]
Viscount Melbourne July 1834 October 1842 [6]
The Marquess of Lansdowne October 1842 February 1855 [6]
Earl Granville February 1855 1859 [4][6]

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 J. C. Sainty (1964), Leaders and Whips in the House of Lords, 1783-1964 House of Lords Record Office p 10
  2. ↑ Melbourne ceased to be leader when he suffered a stroke on this date.
  3. ↑ Palmerston was an Irish peer and a member of the House of Commons.
  4. 1 2 3 This date is given as being the date when the Whig Party came to an end and the Liberal Party began.
  5. 1 2 3 Cook & Keith, British Historical Facts 1830-1900 p 92
  6. 1 2 3 J. C. Sainty (1964), Leaders and Whips in the House of Lords, 1783-1964 House of Lords Record Office p 11
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