Category Archives: Victorian era

Victorian Happenings: The Bedchamber Crisis

The Bedchamber crisis occurred in May 1839 after Whig politician Lord Melbourne had resigned as Prime Minister. Queen Victoria invited Tory politician Robert Peel to form a new government. Peel realised that such a government would hold a minority in … Continue reading

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Victorian Happenings: The Formation of the Anti-Corn Law League

The Anti-Corn Law League was in effect the resumption of the Anti-Corn Law Association, which had been created in London in 1836 but did not obtain widespread popularity. The Anti-Corn Law League was founded in Manchester in 1838. Richard Cobden … Continue reading

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Victorian Happenings: March 26, 1839 ~ The First Henley Royal Regatta Is Held

Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage. It should not be confused … Continue reading

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Victorian England: The Stockport Viaduct, One of the Largest Brick Structures in Europe

The Stockport Viaduct is a large brick-built bridge which carries the West Coast Main Line across the valley of the River Mersey, in Stockport, Greater Manchester (grid reference SJ89089030). It is the largest brick structure in Europe and was designed … Continue reading

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Victorian England ~ The Penny Black: First Adhesive Postage Stamp

The Penny Black was the world’s first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. It was issued in Britain on 1 May 1840. Unfortunately, not all post offices in the UK received official issues of the new stamps. … Continue reading

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Victorian England: Sir Rowland Hill, Reformer of the Postal System

Sir Rowland Hill KCB, FRS (3 December 1795 – 27 August 1879) was an English teacher, inventor and social reformer. He campaigned for a comprehensive reform of the postal system, based on the concept of Uniform Penny Post and his … Continue reading

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Victorian Celebrities: Thomas Henderson, First Person to Measure the Distance to Alpha Centauri

A Scottish astronomer and mathematician, Thomas James Alan Henderson (28 December 1798 – 23 November 1844) was the first person to measure the distance to Alpha Centauri, the major component of the nearest stellar system to Earth, and for being … Continue reading

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Regency Celebrity: William John Napier, 9th Lord Napier, Royal Navy Officer

William John Napier, 9th Lord Napier (Chinese: 律勞卑; 1786 – 11 October 1834) was a Royal Navy officer, politician and diplomat. Early Life He was the son of Francis Napier, 8th Lord Napier (1758–1823) and the father of Francis Napier, … Continue reading

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During the Reign of George IV: The Shrigley Abduction, a Well-Developed Scheme to Marry an Heiress

The Shrigley abduction was an 1826 British case of a forced marriage by Edward Gibbon Wakefield to the 15-year-old heiress Ellen Turner of Pott Shrigley. The couple were married in Gretna Green, Scotland, and travelled to Calais before Turner’s father … Continue reading

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Regency Structures: The Burlington Arcade

The Burlington Arcade is a covered shopping arcade in London that runs behind Bond Street from Piccadilly through to Burlington Gardens. It is one of the precursors of the mid-19th-century European shopping gallery and the modern shopping centre. The Burlington … Continue reading

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