The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey, Journal entry, 16 November 1809
“Thursday, 16th.—We dine at Lord
Derby’s: present—Lord
Holland, Lord Grenville,
Tierney, Lord Kinnaird and young
Eden (Lord Auckland’s
second son). One should have thought at such a time the conversation of such a
party might have been worth hearing, but nothing could be
lower—imitations of old Lansdowne and
Lord Thurlow by Lord
Holland, and such like things. The only political thing
was—Lord Derby says, from all he hears, he
thinks the appointment of so young a man as Manners
Sutton* to Judge Advocate has given such offence, that a motion
upon that subject would be a good one for the House of Commons at the opening
of the session; upon which Tierney shrugs his head and
says—‘Personal questions never
answer.’ Was there ever such contemptible stuff at such a crisis?
But this is the judicious leader, or rather adviser behind the curtain of the
Whigs and Grenvilles. What is there that relates to all or
any of the present Government that is not a personal question?
George Eden, earl of Auckland (1784-1849)
The second son of William Eden, first Baron Auckland (d. 1814); educated at Eton, Christ
Church, Oxford, and Lincoln's Inn, he courted Annabella Milbanke and was MP for New
Woodstock. He was governor-general of India (1836-42).
William Eden, first Baron Auckland (1744-1814)
Educated at Christ Church, Oxford, he was an English MP, statesman, diplomat, and author
who was raised to the peerage in 1789.
Henry Richard Fox, third baron Holland (1773-1840)
Whig politician and literary patron; Holland House was for many years the meeting place
for reform-minded politicians and writers. He also published translations from the Spanish
and Italian;
Memoirs of the Whig Party was published in 1852.
William Wyndham Grenville, baron Grenville (1759-1834)
Educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, he was a moderate Whig MP, foreign secretary
(1791-1801), and leader and first lord of the treasury in the “All the Talents” ministry
(1806-1807). He was chancellor of Oxford University (1810).
Charles Kinnaird, eighth baron Kinnaird (1780-1826)
The son of George Kinnaird, seventh baron Kinnaird; he was Whig MP for Leominster
(1802-05) before he succeeded to the title. He was the elder brother of Byron's friend,
Douglas Kinnaird.
Edward Smith Stanley, twelfth earl of Derby (1752-1834)
Grandson of the eleventh earl (d. 1776); educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge,
he was a Whig MP for Lancashire, a friend of Charles James Fox, nephew of John Burgoyne,
and a committed sportsman.
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.”
