The Earl Grey | |
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Prime Minister of the United Kingdom | |
In office 22 November 1830 – 9 July 1834 | |
Monarch | William IV |
Preceded by | The Duke of Wellington |
Succeeded by | The Viscount Melbourne |
Leader of the House of Lords | |
In office 22 November 1830 – 9 July 1834 | |
Preceded by | The Duke of Wellington |
Succeeded by | The Viscount Melbourne |
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | |
In office 24 September 1806 – 25 March 1807 | |
Preceded by | Charles James Fox |
Succeeded by | George Canning |
Leader of the House of Commons | |
In office 24 September 1806 – 31 March 1807 | |
Preceded by | Charles James Fox |
Succeeded by | Spencer Perceval |
First Lord of the Admiralty | |
In office 11 February 1806 – 24 September 1806 | |
Preceded by | The Lord Barham |
Succeeded by | Thomas Grenville |
Member of the House of Lords | |
Hereditary peerage 15 November 1807 – 17 July 1845 | |
Preceded by | The 1st Earl Grey |
Succeeded by | The 3rd Earl Grey |
Member of Parliament for Northumberland | |
In office 14 September 1786 – 14 November 1807 | |
Preceded by | Lord Algernon Percy |
Succeeded by | Earl Percy |
Personal details | |
Born | Fallodon, Northumberland, England | 13 March 1764
Died | 17 July 1845 Howick, Northumberland, England | (aged 81)
Political party | Whig |
Spouse | |
Children | 16, including Henry, Charles, Frederick, and Eliza Courtney (illegitimate) |
Parent |
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Relatives | House of Grey (family) |
Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
Signature | |
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey KG PC (13 March 1764 – 17 July 1845), known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was a British Whig politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1830 to 1834. He was a descendant of the House of Grey and the namesake of Earl Grey tea. [1] Grey was a long-time leader of multiple reform movements. During his time as prime minister, his government brought about two notable reforms. The Reform Act 1832 enacted parliamentary reform, greatly increasing the electorate of the House of Commons. [2]
The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 led to the abolition of slavery in most of the British Empire via a programme of compensated emancipation. Grey was a strong opponent of the foreign and domestic policies of William Pitt the Younger in the 1790s. In 1807, he resigned as foreign secretary to protest against George III's uncompromising rejection of Catholic emancipation. Grey finally resigned as prime minister in 1834 over disagreements in his cabinet regarding Ireland, and retired from politics. Scholars rank him highly among British prime ministers, believing that he averted much civil strife and enabled Victorian progress. [2]
Descended from a long-established Northumbrian family seated at Howick Hall, Grey was the second but eldest surviving son of General Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey KB (1729–1807) and his wife Elizabeth (1743/4–1822), a daughter of George Grey of Southwick, County Durham. He had four brothers and two sisters. He was educated at Richmond School, [3] followed by Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, [4] acquiring a facility in Latin and in English composition and declamation that enabled him to become one of the foremost parliamentary orators of his generation.
Grey was elected to Parliament for the Northumberland constituency on 14 September 1786, aged just 22. He became a part of the Whig circle of Charles James Fox, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, and the Prince of Wales, and soon became one of the major leaders of the Whig party. He was the youngest manager on the committee for prosecuting Warren Hastings. The Whig historian T. B. Macaulay wrote in 1841:
At an age when most of those who distinguish themselves in life are still contending for prizes and fellowships at college, he had won for himself a conspicuous place in Parliament. No advantage of fortune or connection was wanting that could set off to the height his splendid talents and his unblemished honour. At twenty-three he had been thought worthy to be ranked with the veteran statesmen who appeared as the delegates of the British Commons, at the bar of the British nobility. All who stood at that bar, save him alone, are gone, culprit, advocates, accusers. To the generation which is now in the vigour of life, he is the sole representative of a great age which has passed away. But those who, within the last ten years, have listened with delight, till the morning sun shone on the tapestries of the House of Lords, to the lofty and animated eloquence of Charles Earl Grey, are able to form some estimate of the powers of a race of men among whom he was not the foremost. [5]
Grey was also noted for advocating Parliamentary reform and electoral reform. During the French Revolution and the Revolutionary ideals of liberty, freedom and equality became widespread across Europe and beyond. In Britain, the demand for universal suffrage caused the British government in 1790, to impose serious legislation against sedition and revolutionary activities deemed as against British values of democracy. The passage of these measures were by the dominant Tory Party and Prime Minister Pitt, whose Later tenure was dubbed by his enemies as "Pitt's Terror". Charles Fox and Richard Sheridan Brinsley, key allies and mentors of the young Grey, denounced the government's actions for suppressing reform movements due to association with revolutionary ideals.
In 1792 he was the main force behind a petition submitted to Parliament in favor of reforms aimed at restoring "the freedom of election and a more equal representation of the people in parliament, and securing to the people a more frequent exercise of their right of electing their representatives," as a 1884 book described it. [6] The 1792 petition produced no change but in 1832 he pursued the goal more satisfactorily with passage of the Great Reform Bill. In his drive for fairer representation, he favored Catholic emancipation. His affair with Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, herself an active political campaigner, did him little harm although it nearly caused her to be divorced by her husband.
In 1806, Grey, by then Lord Howick owing to his father's elevation to the peerage as Earl Grey, became a part of the Ministry of All the Talents (a coalition of Foxite Whigs, Grenvillites, and Addingtonites) as First Lord of the Admiralty.
Following Fox's death later that year, Howick took over both as foreign secretary and as leader of the Whigs. The ministry broke up in 1807 when George III blocked Catholic Emancipation legislation and required that all ministers individually sign a pledge, which Howick refused to do, that they would not "propose any further concessions to the Catholics". [7]
One of Grey’s significant challenges was to maintain and strengthen alliances against France. Despite the Ministry’s short lifespan, Grey and his colleagues worked to bolster coalitions with other European powers. This period saw continued efforts to sustain the Third Coalition against Napoleon, although with mixed results due to the fluctuating allegiances of European states and Napoleon’s military prowess. [8] [9]
Grey’s diplomatic stance was aligned with the broader strategy of the Ministry to seek allies who could contribute to a unified front against French aggression. However, the inherent difficulties in coordinating with various European nations, each with their own interests and vulnerabilities, made this task arduous. [9]
While not directly a foreign policy action, the passage of the Slave Trade Act in 1807 had significant international implications. It was a clear signal of Britain’s moral and humanitarian stance, which Grey supported vigorously. This act enhanced Britain’s diplomatic image and set a precedent for other nations to follow, showcasing the nation’s commitment to ethical governance and human rights. [10]
The government fell from power the next year, and, after a brief period as a member of parliament for Appleby from May to July 1807, Howick went to the Lords, succeeding his father as Earl Grey. He continued in opposition for the next 23 years. There were times during this period when Grey came close to joining the Government. In 1811, the Prince Regent tried to court Grey and his ally William Grenville to join the Spencer Perceval ministry following the resignation of Lord Wellesley. Grey and Grenville declined because the Prince Regent refused to make concessions regarding Catholic Emancipation. [11] Grey's relationship with the Prince was strained further when his estranged daughter and heiress, Princess Charlotte, turned to him for advice on how to avoid her father's choice of husband for her. [12]
On the Napoleonic Wars, Grey took the standard Whig party line. After being initially enthused by the Spanish uprising against Napoleon, Grey became convinced of the French emperor's invincibility following the defeat and death of Sir John Moore, the leader of the British forces in the Peninsular War. [13] Grey was then slow to recognise the military successes of Moore's successor, the Duke of Wellington. [14] When Napoleon first abdicated in 1814, Grey objected to the restoration of the Bourbons' authoritarian monarchy; and when Napoleon was reinstalled the following year, he said that the change was an internal French matter. [15]
In 1826, believing that the Whig party no longer paid any attention to his opinions, Grey stood down as leader in favour of Lord Lansdowne. [16] The following year, when George Canning succeeded Lord Liverpool as prime minister, it was, therefore, Lansdowne and not Grey who was asked to join the Government, which needed strengthening following the resignations of Robert Peel and the Duke of Wellington. [17] When Wellington became prime minister in 1828, George IV (as the Prince Regent had become) singled out Grey as the one person he could not appoint to the Government. [18]
In 1830, following the death of George IV and the resignation of the Duke of Wellington on the question of Parliamentary reform, the Whigs finally returned to power, with Grey as prime minister. In 1831, he was made a member of the Order of the Garter. His term was a notable one, seeing the passage of the Reform Act 1832, which finally saw the reform of the House of Commons, and the abolition of slavery throughout almost all of the British Empire in 1833 with the Slavery Abolition Act. As the years had passed, however, Grey had become more conservative, and he was cautious about initiating more far-reaching reforms, particularly since he knew that the King was at best only a reluctant supporter of reform.[ citation needed]
Grey’s cabinet from 1830 to 1834 was notable for its blend of aristocratic prestige and a strong reformist zeal. Despite being composed largely of members from the aristocracy, his ministers were united by their commitment to reform, which was pivotal in achieving significant legislative changes. [19]
Grey himself, having a long political career and being a staunch advocate for various reforms, attracted capable and notable figures into his cabinet. For instance, Lord John Russell, one of the leading architects of the later Reform Bill, was a key member. Other notable members of his cabinet included, Viscount Melbourne, who served as Home Secretary and supported a pragmatic approach to governance while supporting moderate reform. Lord Brougham, serving Lord Chancellor, was another key reformist in the cabinet with a strong legal background and vigorous zeal for educational and legal reforms. [20]
Others included: Lord Palmerston, serving as Foreign Secretary, who directed and had a substantial impact on British foreign policy in his first tenure in that position and former Prime Minister Lord Goderich as Secretary of State for the Colonies. [20]
The foreign policy of the Grey government was also notably played a crucial role in shaping Britain's international stance during a period of considerable geopolitical shifts. This meant relying on a balance of power and a nuanced approach to towards dealing with European nations to ensure British interests were protected from external threats. Grey's foreign policy was primarily influenced by the need to maintain, as mentioned, a balance of power in Europe. Following the Napoleonic Wars, Europe was in a state of flux, with the Congress of Vienna having established a fragile balance. Grey's government aimed to sustain this balance to ensure peace and stability. His foreign secretary, Lord Palmerston, was instrumental in this, promoting policies that would prevent any single power from becoming too dominant. [21]
Grey's foreign policy towards European nations, was exemplified by relations with France, which was characterised by a cautious approach aimed at maintaining cordial relations while safeguarding British interests. The July Revolution of 1830 in France, which resulted in the rise of Louis Philippe as the "Citizen King," was initially met with wariness. [22] However, Grey's government recognized the new regime, seeking to foster stability and prevent revolutionary fervor from spreading across Europe. This pragmatic approach helped in maintaining peace and fostering trade relations between the two nations. [23]
One of Grey's significant foreign policy achievements was the recognition of Belgian independence. The Belgian Revolution of 1830 led to the secession of Belgium from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Grey's government played a pivotal role in the negotiations that followed. [24] The London Conference of 1830-31, which was convened by Grey's government, ultimately led to the recognition of Belgium as an independent and neutral state. [24] This move was crucial in preventing potential conflicts involving major European powers over Belgian territory. [25]
Non-intervention in sovereign nations was a key component of Grey’s foreign policy. During the early 1830s were also a period of civil strife in Spain and Portugal. [26] [27] The Grey administration adhered to a policy of non-intervention in these conflicts, despite pressures from various quarters. This stance was partly influenced by the desire to avoid embroiling Britain in costly continental conflicts and partly by the recognition of the limitations of British power in influencing the internal affairs of other nations without direct provocation. [28]
The Eastern Question, concerning the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the interests of European powers in its territories, also featured in Grey's foreign policy. Grey's government supported the status quo to maintain stability in the region. This policy was aligned with the broader European consensus aimed at preventing a major conflict over the disintegration of the Ottoman territories. [29]
Grey contributed to a plan to found a new colony in South Australia: in 1831 a "Proposal to His Majesty's Government for founding a colony on the Southern Coast of Australia" was prepared under the auspices of Robert Gouger, Anthony Bacon, Jeremy Bentham and Grey, but its ideas were considered too radical, and it was unable to attract the required investment. [30] In the same year, Grey was appointed to serve on the Government Commission upon Emigration (which was wound up in 1832). [31]
In 1831 two acts were introduced concerning Truck wages. The first repealed all existing enactments on the subject of truck "and the second provided that workmen in a number of the principal industries must receive payment in the current coin of the realm." [32]
Grey's administration also took steps to improve factory conditions. The Factories Act of 1833 was a landmark law that regulated working hours for women and young people, setting maximum working hours and mandating regular inspections. This act laid the groundwork for future labor rights and protections. [33] This was in a series of reforms that sought to modernise British society, improve living conditions, and address the needs of a rapidly industrialising nation. [34]
One of his notable achievements was the passage of the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834. This reform aimed to overhaul the existing Poor Law system, which was seen as inefficient and prone to abuse. [35] The new legislation established a centralised system managed by the Poor Law Commission, which set up local boards of guardians to oversee workhouses. [36] These workhouses provided relief only within their confines, compelling able-bodied individuals to work while offering outdoor relief primarily to the sick and elderly. [37]
In terms of health, Grey’s administration laid foundational work for future public health initiatives, although direct legislation under his tenure was limited. His government did emphasised improvements in sanitary conditions and living standards, which indirectly contributed to better public health outcomes. [38] The movement towards public health reforms was propelled by the understanding that poor living conditions contributed to widespread health issues. [39] This period saw a growing awareness of the need for government intervention to improve public health, setting the stage for later reforms such as the Public Health Act of 1848. [40]
Grey is most importantly noted for the most significant legislative reforms that shaped British political and social landscape. The Great Reform Act of 1832, also known as the Representation of the People Act 1832. This act addressed widespread calls for reforming the electoral system, which was riddled with inequities and corruption. Before the act, many parliamentary constituencies were [[rotten borough|“rotten boroughs” with very few voters that could be easily manipulated by wealthy patrons. The act aimed to create a more representative and fair system by redistributing seats to reflect population shifts, notably giving representation to burgeoning industrial cities and reducing the influence of these rotten boroughs. [41] [42]
The Great Reform Act of 1832 was a significant step towards establishing a modern democratic voting system in Britain. It extended the franchise to include property-owning middle-class men, thus broadening the electorate by approximately 50%. This enfranchisement of the middle class marked a shift from the aristocratic control of Parliament to a more inclusive political structure. Despite these advances, the act did not go as far as some radicals hoped, as it still excluded a significant portion of the working class and women from voting. Nevertheless, it set a precedent for future reforms and is considered a cornerstone in the development of a more democratic Britain. [43] [42]
The passage of the Act was not without significant opposition and struggle. Earl Grey and his government faced considerable resistance from conservative elements within Parliament, particularly in the House of Lords. Public pressure and a series of political maneuvers, including Grey’s threat to resign, eventually led to the act’s passage. The reforms also sparked widespread public enthusiasm and a sense of empowerment among the newly enfranchised voters. This period of reform was characterised by intense political engagement and activism, which helped lay the groundwork for future expansions of the franchise and further democratic reforms. [44]
In addition to electoral reform, Grey’s government is celebrated for the abolition of slavery in 1833 through the passage of the Slavery Slavery Abolition Act 1833. The Abolition Act was a landmark in the fight against slavery, legally freeing slaves in most parts of the British Empire. The act was the result of decades of pressure from abolitionist movements, public advocacy, and economic considerations. It not only emancipated hundreds of thousands of slaves but also provided for financial compensation to slave owners, totaling £20 million, a huge sum at the time. This compensation was controversial but deemed necessary to gain the support of Parliament and mitigate economic disruptions. [45] [46]
The abolition of slavery had profound social and economic impacts. It marked the culmination of a moral and humanitarian crusade against one of the most egregious abuses of human rights. While the immediate aftermath saw former slaves facing significant challenges, such as economic disenfranchisement and continued social prejudice, the act was a crucial step toward social justice and equality. The impact of this reform extended beyond the Empire itself, influencing abolitionist movements worldwide and setting a powerful precedent for the universal fight against slavery and equal status. [46]
During his tenure, Grey implemented significant fiscal and taxation reforms as a part of his wider economic policy, which focused on modernising the British economy and ensuring fiscal responsibility. One major aspect was the reduction of tariffs and other trade barriers to encourage free trade. This move aimed to lower the cost of goods and stimulate economic activity by making imports cheaper and more accessible, a policy aligned with Grey’s Whig principles which favoured less government interference in trade and more market-driven economic policies. [47]
Grey also tackled economic distress through his stance on trade policies. He was a proponent of reducing the protectionist Corn Laws, which imposed tariffs on imported grain, keeping prices high and benefiting landowners at the expense of consumers, especially the working class. Although substantial reform of the Corn Laws was not achieved during his tenure, Grey’s administration set the stage for later repeal by highlighting the economic inefficiencies and social injustices these laws perpetuated. His economic policies generally reflected a commitment to modernising the British economy by promoting free trade principles and improving social welfare mechanisms. [48]
Additionally, Grey’s government undertook efforts to reform the taxation system. They aimed to make it fairer and more efficient by reducing the reliance on indirect taxes, which disproportionately affected the poor. Instead, they worked towards broadening the tax base and ensuring that wealthier individuals and landowners contributed a fairer share. These changes were part of a broader effort to address economic inequalities and create a more balanced fiscal system, reflecting Grey’s commitment to economic reform and fiscal prudence. [47] [49]
Despite sweeping reforms, Grey’s ministry faced significant opposition within the Whig party, disagreements over key policies, and ultimately, the intervention of King William IV. Grey’s government was marked by significant legislative reforms, such as the Reform Act of 1832 and the abolition of slavery in 1833, but these reforms also stirred considerable opposition from the Tories and created friction within some in the party. Grey faced increasing challenges from more radical Whigs who wanted further reforms, particularly regarding the Poor Law, which alienated moderate Whigs and conservatives within the party. [50] [51]
It was the issue of Ireland which precipitated the end of Grey's premiership in 1834. Lord Anglesey, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, preferred conciliatory reform including the partial redistribution of the income from the tithes to the Roman Catholic Church and away from the established Church of Ireland, a policy known as "appropriation". [52] The Chief Secretary for Ireland, Lord Stanley, however, preferred coercive measures. [53] The cabinet was divided, and when Lord John Russell drew attention in the House of Commons to their differences over appropriation, Stanley and others resigned. [54] This triggered Grey to retire from public life, leaving Lord Melbourne as his successor. Unlike most politicians, he seems to have genuinely preferred a private life; colleagues remarked caustically that he threatened to resign at every setback.
However, the Whigs suffered a major setback after his resignation when Lord Althorp, the leader of the House of Commons and a stabilising force within the cabinet, was elevated to the House of Lords upon his father’s death. King William IV saw this as an opportunity to dismiss the Whig government, arguing that without Althorp, the remaining cabinet members were too radical. The King’s distrust of the more radical elements of the Whig party, combined with the existing factionalism and policy disputes, led him to invite Sir Robert Peel to form a government. However, Peel’s minority government was short-lived, and the Whigs under Melbourne returned to power by April 1835. [50]
Grey returned to Howick but kept a close eye on the policies of the new cabinet under Melbourne, whom he, and especially his family, regarded as a mere understudy until he began to act in ways of which they disapproved. Grey became more critical as the decade went on, being particularly inclined to see the hand of Daniel O'Connell behind the scenes and blaming Melbourne for subservience to the Radicals with whom he identified the Irish patriot. He made no allowances for Melbourne's need to keep the radicals on his side to preserve his shrinking majority in the Commons, and in particular, he resented any slight on his own great achievement, the Reform Act, which he saw as a final solution of the question for the foreseeable future. He continually stressed its conservative nature. As he declared in his last great public speech, at the Grey Festival organised in his honour at Edinburgh in September 1834, its purpose was to strengthen and preserve the established constitution, to make it more acceptable to the people at large, and especially the middle classes, who had been the principal beneficiaries of the Reform Act, and to establish the principle that future changes would be gradual, "according to the increased intelligence of the people, and the necessities of the times". [55] It was the speech of a conservative statesman. [56]
Changes
Before his marriage, Grey had an affair with the married Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. Grey met Cavendish while attending a Whig society meeting in Devonshire House, and they became lovers. In 1791 she became pregnant and was sent to France, where she gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, who was raised by Grey's parents: [57] [58] [59]
On 18 November 1794, Grey married Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby (1776–1861), only daughter of William Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Imokilly and Louisa Molesworth. The marriage was a fruitful one; between 1796 and 1819 the couple had ten sons and six daughters: [61]
Grey spent his last years in contented, if sometimes fretful, retirement at Howick with his books, his family, and his dogs. The one great personal blow he suffered in old age was the death of his favourite grandson, Charles, at the age of 13. Grey became physically feeble in his last years and died quietly in his bed on 17 July 1845, forty-four years to the day since going to live at Howick. [62] He was buried in the Church of St Michael and All Angels there on the 26th in the presence of his family, close friends, and the labourers on his estate. [56]
His biographer G. M. Trevelyan argues:
in our domestic history 1832 is the next great landmark after 1688 ... [It] saved the land from revolution and civil strife and made possible the quiet progress of the Victorian era. [63]
Grey is commemorated by Grey's Monument in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, which consists of a statue of Lord Grey standing atop a 40 m (130 ft) high column. [64] The monument was damaged by lightning in 1941 and the statue's head was knocked off. [65] The monument lends its name to Monument Metro station on the Tyne and Wear Metro, located directly underneath. [66] Grey Street in Newcastle upon Tyne, which runs south-east from the monument, is also named after Grey. [67]
Durham University's Grey College is named after Grey, who as prime minister in 1832 supported the Act of Parliament that established the university. [68]
Earl Grey tea, a blend which uses bergamot oil to flavour the brew, is commonly believed to be named after Grey, although the term was apparently first used decades after his death. [69]
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By his wife Mary Elizabeth, only daughter of the first Lord Ponsonby, whom he married on the 18th of November 1794, he became the father of ten sons and five daughters.
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