The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 5 June 1832
“June 5th.
“. . . Thank God! I was in at the death of this
Conservative plot, and the triumph of our Bill. This is the third great event
of my life at which I have been present, and in each of which I have been to a
certain extent mixed up—the battle of Waterloo, the battle of Queen Caroline, and the battle of Earl Grey and the English nation for the Reform
Bill. If the Conservative press is aware that the Master-in-Chancery who
carried this Bill from the Lords to the Commons was our Harry Martin, lineal descendant of Harry Martin the regicide, what a subject it
will be for them tomorrow!”
Queen Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1768-1821)
Married the Prince of Wales in 1795 and separated in 1796; her husband instituted
unsuccessful divorce proceedings in 1820 when she refused to surrender her rights as
queen.
Charles Grey, second earl Grey (1764-1845)
Whig statesman and lover of the Duchess of Devonshire; the second son of the first earl
(d. 1807), he was prime minister (1831-34).
Henry Marten (1602 c.-1680)
English radical MP, soldier, member of the Committee on Safety, and regicide, imprisoned
for life at the Restoration.
Henry Martin (1763-1839)
Of Colston Bassett, Nottinghamshire; educated at Harrow, he was MP for Kinsale (1806-18)
and master in chancery.
