Commons 1820-1832

The death of George IV in 1830 precipitated a general election in which the prime minister, the duke of Wellington, retained a parliamentary majority. However, by Christmas he had resigned, making way for Earl Grey’s coalition government. The new government’s extensive reform proposals would soon become its raison d’être and with its defeat over Gascoyne’s wrecking amendment to the first reform bill, it persuaded William IV to dissolve Parliament.

In contrast to its predecessor, which lasted over six years under the stable Liverpool ministry, the Parliament of 1826 ran to only four sessions and saw Lord Liverpool’s premiership followed in rapid succession by those of Canning, Goderich and Wellington. George Canning died before his abortive government had established itself, while Lord Goderich capitulated without even meeting Parliament.

On the death of the insane George III on 29 Jan. 1820, the prince regent ascended the throne as George IV. The required general election was held shortly afterwards and confirmed that Lord Liverpool’s Tory administration had a comfortable majority in the Commons. Apart from during the controversial divorce proceedings against Queen Caroline in the Lords later in 1820, the prime minister retained the new king’s confidence, and the Whig opposition was never more than a sometimes persistent irritant.