Month: November 2016

18th Century history, Elections, Religious history

Parliaments, Politics & People seminar: Alex Lock, ‘Sir Thomas Gascoigne (1745-1810), national politics and the York county election of 1784’

Thanks to Parliament Week, we’re a little behind in our ‘Parliaments, politics and people’ seminar reports. Before tonight’s seminar, here’s our latest report… A month ago Dr Alexander Lock, Curator of Modern Archives and Manuscripts at the British Library, spoke on ‘Sir Thomas Gascoigne (1745-1810), national politics and the York county election of 1784’. The paper was based on Dr Lock’s recently-published biography of Gascoigne, … Continue reading Parliaments, Politics & People seminar: Alex Lock, ‘Sir Thomas Gascoigne (1745-1810), national politics and the York county election of 1784’

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18th Century history, House of Lords 1660-1715, Social history

The ‘marriage’ of Aubrey de Vere, 20th earl of Oxford

Today, our post is another inspired by our recently-published volumes on the House of Lords. In this blog the editor, Dr Ruth Paley, describes the infamous matrimonial affairs of the 20th earl of Oxford… Sometime in the early 1660s, Aubrey de Vere, the 20th earl of Oxford, married the popular actress, Hester Davenport.  Or did he? There is little doubt that a wedding took place; … Continue reading The ‘marriage’ of Aubrey de Vere, 20th earl of Oxford

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Early modern history, Military history, Religious history, Unlikely Parliamentarians

Unlikely Parliamentarians 5: Civil War religious radical

This week is Parliament Week, a programme of events and activities that connects people across the UK with Parliament and democracy. To mark it, every day this week we are publishing a blog on ‘unlikely parliamentarians’  – the men and women across history who became parliamentarians only unexpectedly. Our final blog in the series is from Dr Stephen Roberts, editor of the Commons 1640-60 section. … Continue reading Unlikely Parliamentarians 5: Civil War religious radical

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19th Century history, Social history, Unlikely Parliamentarians

Unlikely Parliamentarians 4: a view from the Victorian Commons

This week is Parliament Week, a programme of events and activities that connects people across the UK with Parliament and democracy. To mark it, every day this week we are publishing a blog on ‘unlikely parliamentarians’  – the men and women across history who became parliamentarians only unexpectedly. In our fourth blog of the series, Dr Philip Salmon, editor of the Victorian Commons, discusses some … Continue reading Unlikely Parliamentarians 4: a view from the Victorian Commons

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Early modern history, James I to Restoration, Religious history, Social history, Unlikely Parliamentarians

Unlikely MPs 3: Catholics in Parliament, 1604-1629

This week is Parliament Week, a programme of events and activities that connects people across the UK with Parliament and democracy. To mark it, every day this week we are publishing a blog on ‘unlikely parliamentarians’  – the men and women across history who became parliamentarians only unexpectedly. In today’s blog, Dr Paul Hunneyball of the Lords 1603-29 section discusses a group of parliamentarians unlikely … Continue reading Unlikely MPs 3: Catholics in Parliament, 1604-1629

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Medieval history, Social history, Unlikely Parliamentarians

Unlikely Parliamentarians 2: William Veysy, medieval brickmaker

This week is Parliament Week, a programme of events and activities that connects people across the UK with Parliament and democracy. To mark it, every day this week we are publishing a blog on ‘unlikely parliamentarians’  – the men and women across history who became parliamentarians only unexpectedly. Our second blog written by Dr Linda Clark, editor of the Commons 1422-1504 Section, describes the life … Continue reading Unlikely Parliamentarians 2: William Veysy, medieval brickmaker

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20th century history, Oral history, Post-1945 history, Social history, Unlikely Parliamentarians

Unlikely Parliamentarians 1: Modern MPs

This week is Parliament Week, a programme of events and activities that connects people across the UK with Parliament and democracy. To mark it, every day this week we are publishing a blog on ‘unlikely parliamentarians’ – the men and women across history who became parliamentarians only unexpectedly. We’re starting with a selection of stories taken from our MPs’ oral history project… Our oral history … Continue reading Unlikely Parliamentarians 1: Modern MPs

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Early modern history

Sir Edward Coke and the Bill of Rights: the royal prerogative and parliament in the seventeenth century

Last week the high court ruled on the process the government needs to follow in order to trigger article 50 and initiate Britain’s exit from the European Union. In today’s blog, Dr Robin Eagles discusses the background to the 17th century precedents the judges cited in their ruling… Last week’s judgment by the high court that Theresa May’s government was not able to use its … Continue reading Sir Edward Coke and the Bill of Rights: the royal prerogative and parliament in the seventeenth century

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20th century history, Military history, Oral history, Post-1945 history

Parliament and the Suez Crisis

Sixty years ago this week the Suez Crisis was in full swing and parliament was in uproar. Here we discuss the crisis through the eyes of the Commons… The Suez Crisis is now seen by historians as one of the defining moments of twentieth century British foreign policy. At the time, the divisions within the country were played out in the Commons chamber, as the … Continue reading Parliament and the Suez Crisis

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