Melbourne.
Publisher: Bobbs-Merrill
Published: 1954
Place of publication: Indianapolis
Language: eng
Number of pages: 450
Subjects: Melbourne, William Lamb, Viscount, 1779-1848; Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, 1819-1901 -- Relations with prime ministers; Lamb, Caroline, Lady, 1785-1828 -- Marriage; Prime ministers -- Great Britain -- Biography
Genres: Biography.
Description: William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, PC, FRS (1779-1848), usually addressed as Lord Melbourne, was a British Whig statesman who served as Home Secretary (1830-1834) and Prime Minister (1834 and 1835-1841). He is best known for his intense and successful mentoring of Queen Victoria, at ages 18-21, in the ways of politics. Historians have concluded that Melbourne does not rank high as a prime minister, for there were no great foreign wars or domestic issues to handle, he lacked major achievements, and he enunciated no grand principles. His most famous dictum in politics was "Why not leave it alone?", quoted by those who object to change for change's sake. The city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, was named in his honor in March 1837, as he was Prime Minister at the time. Melbourne was dismissed by King William IV in 1834, the last British prime minister to be dismissed by a monarch.--Wikipedia.
Notes: "Parts I and II were published in 1939 under the title of The young Melbourne."