The Creevey Papers
Thomas Creevey to Elizabeth Ord, 16 August 1834
“16th.
“. . . Our poor Taylor is dead.* . . . I had really a charming day at Holland
House yesterday. Dear Lord Grey was one of
the party, as amiable as ever he could be. Lady
Holland followed me out when I came away to ask me to come again
on Sunday next, which I promised to do. . . . Melbourne has
* The Right Hon. Michael
Angelo Taylor, M.P., a gentleman of small stature and
moderate sagacity, but greatly assisted to some distinction by his
clever and ambitious wife. |
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| 1834.] | BROUGHAM BLAMED FOR THE CRISIS. | 285 |
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been kissing hands at
the levee to-day as Prime Minister, and he is succeeded in the Home Department
by Duncannon, who goes up to the House of
Lords. Duncannon is succeeded in the Woods and Forests by
Hobhouse, with a seat in the
Cabinet.”
Elizabeth Fox, Lady Holland [née Vassall] (1771 c.-1845)
In 1797 married Henry Richard Fox, Lord Holland, following her divorce from Sir Godfrey
Webster; as mistress of Holland House she became a pillar of Whig society.
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).
John Cam Hobhouse, baron Broughton (1786-1869)
Founder of the Cambridge Whig Club; traveled with Byron in the orient, radical MP for
Westminster (1820); Byron's executor; after a long career in politics published
Some Account of a Long Life (1865) later augmented as
Recollections of a Long Life, 6 vols (1909-1911).
William Lamb, second viscount Melbourne (1779-1848)
English statesman, the son of Lady Melbourne (possibly by the third earl of Egremont) and
husband of Lady Caroline Lamb; he was a Whig MP, prime minister (1834-41), and counsellor
to Queen Victoria.
John William Ponsonby, fourth earl of Bessborough (1781-1847)
The son of Frederick Ponsonby, third earl of Bessborough (d. 1844) and elder brother of
Lady Caroline Lamb; he was a Whig MP (1805-34), home secretary (1834-35), and
lord-lieutenant of Ireland (1846-47).
Michael Angelo Taylor (1757 c.-1834)
Educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, he was MP (1784-34) for a variety of
constituencies; originally a Tory he gravitated to the Whigs over the course of his long
career.
