British Prime Minister. Born the son of Sir Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne, and educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, he married Lady Caroline Ponsonby in 1805. In 1806 he was elected as the Whig Member of Parliament for Leominster, for Northhampton in 1816, and for Hertford in 1819. Although his political career suffered when his wife's scandalous affair with Lord Byron was exposed, he was appointed to the office of Irish Secretary in 1827. He succeeded to his father's title in 1828. In 1830 he accepted the office of Home Secretary under the Whig Prime Minister Lord Grey. He led a caretaker government in 1834 after Grey's resignation an in the general election of January 1835, he succeeded as Prime Minister. He was still serving as PM when 18 year old Queen Victoria came to the throne in June 1837. Melbourne took on the role of her political mentor and Victoria apparently trusted his advice in all things. She granted him a private apartment at Windsor Castle. Among his government's more noteworthy reforms were the reduction in the number of capital offences in British law and the 1836 passage of the Dissenter's Marriage Bill that allowed marriage outside the Church of England. The city of Melbourne, Australia was named for him in 1837. In 1841, he was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society, and he resigned as Prime Minister that August after the fall of his government. After he left office, the Queen's advisers discouraged Melbourne from having any correspondence with her, and he played no further significant political role. His last years were punctuated with ill health, and he died at age 69.
British Prime Minister. Born the son of Sir Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne, and educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, he married Lady Caroline Ponsonby in 1805. In 1806 he was elected as the Whig Member of Parliament for Leominster, for Northhampton in 1816, and for Hertford in 1819. Although his political career suffered when his wife's scandalous affair with Lord Byron was exposed, he was appointed to the office of Irish Secretary in 1827. He succeeded to his father's title in 1828. In 1830 he accepted the office of Home Secretary under the Whig Prime Minister Lord Grey. He led a caretaker government in 1834 after Grey's resignation an in the general election of January 1835, he succeeded as Prime Minister. He was still serving as PM when 18 year old Queen Victoria came to the throne in June 1837. Melbourne took on the role of her political mentor and Victoria apparently trusted his advice in all things. She granted him a private apartment at Windsor Castle. Among his government's more noteworthy reforms were the reduction in the number of capital offences in British law and the 1836 passage of the Dissenter's Marriage Bill that allowed marriage outside the Church of England. The city of Melbourne, Australia was named for him in 1837. In 1841, he was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society, and he resigned as Prime Minister that August after the fall of his government. After he left office, the Queen's advisers discouraged Melbourne from having any correspondence with her, and he played no further significant political role. His last years were punctuated with ill health, and he died at age 69.
Bio by: Iola
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