# Whig government, 1830–1834

The Whig government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland that began in November 1830 and ended in November 1834 consisted of two ministries: the Grey ministry (from 1830 to July 1834) and then the first Melbourne ministry.

## History

The first wholly Whig government since 1783 came to power after the Duke of Wellington's Tory government lost a vote of no confidence on 15 November 1830. The government, led by the Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, passed the Great Reform Act in 1832, which brought about parliamentary reform, and enacted the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, bringing about the abolition of slavery in most of the British Empire.
However, King William IV dismissed Grey's successor William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne in 1834 and asked Sir Robert Peel to form a government. Peel was out of the country at the time, so the Duke of Wellington formed a caretaker government.

## Cabinets
### The Earl Grey's Cabinet, November 1830 – July 1834

| Office | Name | Term |
| First Lord of the Treasury Leader of the House of Lords | Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey | November 1830 – July 1834 |
| Lord Chancellor | Henry Peter Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux | November 1830 – July 1834 |
| Lord President of the Council | Henry Petty-FitzMaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne | November 1830 – July 1834 |
| Lord Privy Seal | John Lamboton, 1st Baron Durham | November 1830 – April 1833 |
| Lord Privy Seal | Frederick Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon | April 1833 – June 1834 |
| Lord Privy Seal | George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle | June 1834 – July 1834 |
| Home Secretary | William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne | November 1830 – July 1834 |
| Foreign Secretary | Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston | November 1830 – July 1834 |
| Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | Frederick Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich | November 1830 – April 1833 |
| Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | Edward Smith-Stanley | April 1833 – June 1834 |
| Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | Thomas Spring Rice | June 1834 – July 1834 |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | Sir James Graham, 2nd Baronet | November 1830 – June 1834 |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | George Eden, 2nd Baron Auckland | June – July 1834 |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer Leader of the House of Commons | John Spencer, Viscount Althorp | November 1830 – July 1834 |
| President of the Board of Control | Charles Grant | November 1830 – July 1834 |
| Chief Secretary for Ireland | Edward Smith-Stanley | June 1831 – March 1833 |
| Postmaster-General | Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond | December 1830 – July 1834 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Henry Richard Vassall-Fox, 3rd Baron Holland | November 1830 – July 1834 |
| Paymaster of the Forces | Lord John Russell | June 1831 – July 1834 |
| Secretary at War | Edward Ellice | June – July 1834 |
| Minister without Portfolio | George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle | November 1830 – June 1834 |

### Viscount Melbourne's Cabinet, July 1834 – November 1834

| Office | Name | Term |
| First Lord of the Treasury Leader of the House of Lords | William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne | July–November 1834 |
| Lord Chancellor | Henry Peter Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux | July–November 1834 |
| Lord President of the Council | Henry Petty-FitzMaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne | July–November 1834 |
| Lord Privy Seal | Constantine Phipps, 2nd Earl of Mulgrave | July–November 1834 |
| Home Secretary | John Ponsonby, Viscount Duncannon | July–November 1834 |
| Foreign Secretary | Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston | July–November 1834 |
| Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | Thomas Spring Rice | July–November 1834 |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | George Eden, 2nd Baron Auckland | July–November 1834 |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer Leader of the House of Commons | John Spencer, Viscount Althorp | July–November 1834 |
| President of the Board of Trade Treasurer of the Navy | Charles Poulett Thomson | July–November 1834 |
| President of the Board of Control | Charles Grant | July–November 1834 |
| Master of the Mint | James Abercromby | July–November 1834 |
| First Commissioner of Woods and Forests | Sir John Hobhouse, 2nd Baronet | July–November 1834 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Henry Richard Vassall-Fox, 3rd Baron Holland | July–November 1834 |
| Paymaster of the Forces | Lord John Russell | July–November 1834 |
| Secretary at War | Edward Ellice | July–November 1834 |

## List of ministers

Members of the Cabinet are indicated by bold face.
| Office | Name | Date |
| Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury Leader of the House of Lords | Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey | 22 November 1830 – 9 July 1834 |
| Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury Leader of the House of Lords | William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne | 16 July 1834 – 14 November 1834 |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | John Spencer, Viscount Althorp | 22 November 1830 |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Thomas Spring-Rice | 26 November 1830 |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Francis Baring | 6 June 1834 |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | Edward Ellice | 26 November 1830 |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | Charles Wood | 10 August 1832 |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | George Nugent-Grenville, 2nd Baron Nugent | 22 November 1830 – 22 November 1832 |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | Robert Vernon Smith | 22 November 1830 – 14 November 1834 |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | Francis Baring | 22 November 1830 – 6 June 1834 |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | George Ponsonby | 22 November 1830 – 14 November 1834 |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | Thomas Francis Kennedy | 22 November 1832 – 9 April 1834 |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | Robert Graham | 9 April 1834 – 14 November 1834 |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | George Byng | 20 June 1834 – 14 November 1834 |
| Lord Chancellor | Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux | 22 November 1830 |
| Lord President of the Council | Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne | 22 November 1830 |
| Lord Privy Seal | John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham | 22 November 1830 |
| Lord Privy Seal | Frederick Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon | 3 April 1833 |
| Lord Privy Seal | George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle | 5 June 1834 |
| Lord Privy Seal | Constantine Phipps, 2nd Earl of Mulgrave | 30 July 1834 |
| Secretary of State for the Home Department | William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne | 22 November 1830 |
| Secretary of State for the Home Department | John Ponsonby, Viscount Duncannon | 19 July 1834 |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department | George Lamb | 22 November 1830 |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department | Henry Grey, Viscount Howick | 13 January 1834 |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department | Edward Stanley | 23 July 1834 |
| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston | 22 November 1830 |
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Sir George Shee, 2nd Baronet | 26 November 1830 |
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | George Cowper, Viscount Fordwich | 13 November 1834 |
| Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | Frederick Robinso, 1st Viscount Goderich | 22 November 1830 |
| Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | Edward Smith-Stanley | 3 April 1833 |
| Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | Thomas Spring Rice | 5 June 1834 |
| Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | Henry Grey, Viscount Howick | 23 November 1830 |
| Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | Sir John Shaw-Lefevre | 13 January 1834 |
| Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies | Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet | 16 July 1834 |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | Sir James Graham, 2nd Baronet | 22 November 1830 |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | George Eden, 2nd Baron Auckland | 7 June 1834 |
| First Secretary to the Admiralty | George Elliot | 29 November 1830 |
| Civil Lord of the Admiralty | Henry Labouchere | 8 June 1832 |
| President of the Board of Control | Charles Grant | 1 December 1830 |
| Secretary to the Board of Control | Dudley Ryder, Viscount Sandon | 18 December 1830 |
| Secretary to the Board of Control | Thomas Hyde Villiers | 18 May 1831 |
| Secretary to the Board of Control | Thomas Babington Macaulay | 19 December 1832 |
| Secretary to the Board of Control | Robert Gordon | 26 December 1833 – 14 November 1834 |
| Secretary to the Board of Control | James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie | 22 April 1834 – 14 November 1834 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Henry Vassall-Fox, 3rd Baron Holland | 25 November 1830 |
| Chief Secretary for Ireland | Edward Smith-Stanley | 29 November 1830 |
| Chief Secretary for Ireland | Sir John Hobhouse, 2nd Baronet | 29 March 1833 |
| Chief Secretary for Ireland | Edward Littleton | 18 May 1833 |
| Lord Lieutenant of Ireland | Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey | 4 December 1830 |
| Lord Lieutenant of Ireland | Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley | 12 September 1833 |
| Master of the Mint | George Eden, 2nd Baron Auckland | 14 December 1830 |
| Master of the Mint | James Abercromby | 13 June 1834 |
| Paymaster of the Forces | Lord John Russell | 16 December 1830 |
| Minister without Portfolio | George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle | 22 November 1830 – 5 June 1834 |
| Postmaster-General | Charles Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond | 11 December 1830 |
| Postmaster-General | Francis Conyngham, 2nd Marquess Conyngham | 5 July 1834 |
| President of the Board of Trade | George Eden, 2nd Baron Auckland | 22 November 1830 |
| President of the Board of Trade | Charles Poulett Thomson | 5 June 1834 |
| Vice-President of the Board of Trade | Charles Poulett Thomson | 22 November 1830 |
| Vice-President of the Board of Trade | Henry Labouchere | 5 June 1834 |
| Secretary at War | Charles Williams-Wynn | 30 November 1830 |
| Secretary at War | Sir Henry Parnell | 4 April 1831 |
| Secretary at War | Sir John Hobhouse, 2nd Baronet | 1 February 1832 |
| Secretary at War | Edward Ellice | 6 April 1833 |
| First Commissioner of Woods and Forests | George Agar-Ellis | 2 December 1830 |
| First Commissioner of Woods and Forests | John Ponsonby, Viscount Duncannon | 7 February 1831 |
| First Commissioner of Woods and Forests | Sir John Hobhouse, 2nd Baronet | 22 July 1834 |
| Treasurer of the Navy | Charles Poulett Thomson | 30 November 1830 |
| Master-General of the Ordnance | Sir James Kempt | 11 December 1830 |
| Treasurer of the Ordnance | Thomas Creevey | 31 January 1831 |
| Surveyor-General of the Ordnance | William Leader Maberly | 12 January 1831 |
| Surveyor-General of the Ordnance | Charles Richard Fox | 30 November 1832 |
| Clerk of the Ordnance | Charles Tennyson | 30 December 1830 |
| Clerk of the Ordnance | Thomas Francis Kennedy | 8 February 1832 |
| Clerk of the Ordnance | William Leader Maberly | 30 November 1832 |
| Clerk of the Ordnance | Andrew Leith Hay | 19 June 1834 |
| Storekeeper of the Ordnance | Henry Duncan | 30 December 1830 |
| Attorney General | Sir Thomas Denman | 24 November 1830 |
| Attorney General | Sir William Horne | 26 November 1832 |
| Attorney General | Sir John Campbell | 1 March 1834 |
| Solicitor General | Sir William Horne | 24 November 1830 |
| Solicitor General | Sir John Campbell | 26 November 1832 |
| Solicitor General | Sir Charles Pepys | 25 February 1834 |
| Solicitor General | Sir Robert Rolfe | 6 November 1834 |
| Judge Advocate General | Sir Robert Grant | 24 November 1830 |
| Judge Advocate General | Robert Cutlar Fergusson | 19 June 1834 |
| Lord Advocate | Francis Jeffrey | 3 December 1830 |
| Lord Advocate | John Murray | 17 May 1834 |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Henry Cockburn | 3 December 1830 |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Andrew Skene | 5 November 1834 |
| Attorney General for Ireland | Edward Pennefather | 23 December 1830 |
| Attorney General for Ireland | Francis Blackburne | 11 January 1831 |
| Solicitor General for Ireland | Philip Cecil Crampton | 23 December 1830 |
| Solicitor General for Ireland | Michael O'Loghlen | 21 October 1834 |
| Lord Steward of the Household | Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley | 23 November 1830 |
| Lord Steward of the Household | George Campbell, 6th Duke of Argyll | 11 September 1833 |
| Lord Chamberlain of the Household | William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire | 22 November 1830 |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | George Chichester, Earl of Belfast | 24 July 1830 |
| Master of the Horse | William Keppel, 4th Earl of Albemarle | 24 November 1830 |
| Treasurer of the Household | Sir William Henry Fremantle | 27 May 1826 – Continued in office |
| Comptroller of the Household | Lord Robert Grosvenor | 23 November 1830 |
| Captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners | Thomas Foley, 3rd Baron Foley | 8 December 1830 |
| Captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners | Thomas Henry Foley, 4th Baron Foley | 1 May 1833 |
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | Ulick de Burgh, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde | 1 December 1830 |
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford | 16 July 1834 |
| Master of the Buckhounds | Thomas Anson, 2nd Viscount Anson | 24 November 1830 |

### Notes

* ↑ The Government resigned 8 May 1832 and resumed 17 May 1832.
* ↑ Also Leader of the House of Commons until 1834.
* ↑ Created Earl of Durham 23 March 1833.
* 1 2 Joint Secretary from 22 April 1834.
* ↑ Entered the Cabinet 16 June 1831.
* ↑ Entered the Cabinet 16 June 1831; also Leader of the House of Commons 1834.
* ↑ entered the Cabinet 20 June 1834.
* ↑ Office renamed Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms 17 March 1834.
* ↑ Created Earl of Lichfield 15 September 1831.