The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey, Journal entry, 8 November 1809
“Wedy., 8th.—I have a letter from Whitbread. He says Lord Ponsonby never said a word upon politicks,
Saturday, all the evening—that Whitbread was ill on Sunday and did not appear, and that my
Lord was off on Monday before Whitbread. So much for his
‘mission.’ He says Tierney
and the Duke and other Lords are there.
“I meet in the streets several politicians,
tho’ the town is very empty—Owen
Williams, Lord Kensington,
Cavendish, Bradshaw, Maxwell, Lord Ossulston, ![]()
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Horner, Martin, Ward—all in
the House of Commons—all, except Horner, inclined to
talk very contemptuously of our political leaders. Horner
is for doing nothing in the House of Commons this approaching
session—damns the people as rank Tories—I defend them, as having
been betrayed by political leaders, and am myself all for impeachment.*
Martin is all for attacking the Ministers, but is
affraid we shan’t hang together. . . .
Charles Augustus Bennet, fifth earl of Tankerville (1776-1859)
Son of Charles Bennet, the fourth earl (d. 1822); educated at Eton, he was Whig MP for
Steyning (1803-06), Knaresborough (1806-18), and Berwick-on-Tweed) (1820-22); in 1806 he
married Armandine Sophie Leonie Corisande de Gramont.
Augustus Cavendish Bradshaw (1768-1832)
The son of Sir Henry Cavendish bart; educated at Repton and Trinity College, Cambridge,
he was a Whig MP for Honiton (1805-12) and Castle Rising (1812-17); he held the offices of
Teller of the Exchequer in Ireland and groom of the Bedchamber.
George Cavendish, first earl of Burlington (1754-1834)
The son of William Cavendish, fourth Duke of Devonshire; he was a Whig MP for
Knaresborough (1775-80), Derby borough (1780-97), and Derbyshire (1797-1831); he was raised
to the peerage in 1831.
Francis Horner (1778-1817)
Scottish barrister and frequent contributor to the
Edinburgh
Review; he was a Whig MP and member of the Holland House circle.
Richard Martin [Humanity Dick] (1754-1834)
Irish landowner, humanitarian, wit, and friend of the Prince Regent; he was MP for
Galway, 1801-12, 1818-27); he introduced the first legislation in support of animal
rights.
John Ponsonby, viscount Ponsonby (1770 c.-1855)
The son of William Brabazon Ponsonby, first Baron Ponsonby (d. 1806); he was a Whig MP
for Galway Town (1801-02); when not having affairs with Lady Jersey and Harriette Wilson he
pursued a career as a diplomat.
George Tierney (1761-1830)
Whig MP and opposition leader whose political pragmatism made him suspect in the eyes of
his party; he fought a bloodless duel with Pitt in 1798. He is the “Friend of Humanity” in
Canning and Frere's “The Needy Knife-Grinder.”
John William Ward, earl of Dudley (1781-1833)
The son of William Ward, third Viscount Dudley (d. 1823); educated at Edinburgh and
Oxford, he was an English MP, sometimes a Foxite Whig and sometimes Canningite Tory, who
suffered from insanity in his latter years.
Samuel Whitbread (1764-1815)
The son of the brewer Samuel Whitbread (1720-96); he was a Whig MP for Bedford, involved
with the reorganization of Drury Lane after the fire of 1809; its financial difficulties
led him to suicide.
Owen Williams (1764-1832)
Educated at Westminster School, he was a Whig MP for Great Marlow (1796-1832); his wife
Margaret was the sister of Edward Hughes, Lord Dinorbin.
