Whig Government, 1835–1841

Prime Minister: Viscount Melbourne.

Leader of the House of Commons: Lord John Russell.

The Government was formed in 1835 after the defeat of Sir Robert Peel's Government at the general election. It was maintained in office by Queen Victoria. It resigned in 1839 because it secured an inadequate majority on the Jamaica Bill. Melbourne advised the Queen to send for the Duke of Wellington; but the latter advised her to send for Sir Robert Peel. Peel accepted the commission but resigned it owing to the ‘Bedchamber Question.’ The Whig Cabinet accepted responsibility for the Queen's refusal to change her Ladies, and continued in office, without an effective majority, until 1841. Being then defeated on a no-confidence resolution, it advised a dissolution. The Conservatives secured a majority, but the Government met Parliament, was defeated on amendments to the Address in both Houses, and resigned.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

For the resignation of 1839 and the ‘Bedchamber Question’, see Letters of Queen Victoria, 1st series, 1, pp. 198–218; Peel Papers, ii, pp. 387–407; Memoirs of Lord Melbourne, pp. 480–4; Melbourne Papers, pp. 396–8; Clark, Peel and the Conservative Party, pp. 415–25.

Conservative Government, 1841–1846

Prime Minister: Sir Robert Peel.

On the defeat of his Government, Lord Melbourne advised the Queen to send for Sir Robert Peel. Negotiations between the Prince Consort and Peel, through the former's secretary, had removed the difficulty of the Ladies. Accordingly, Peel formed his Government and remained in office with a majority until 1845. In 1845 the Government resigned owing to differences of opinion about the Corn Laws.