The Creevey Papers
Frances Ann Taylor to Thomas Creevey, 17 April 1827
“Whitehall, 17th April.
“What a goose you were to leave town in such
delightful mischievous times! Dear Brougham
arrived the night before last upon a summons from Lord
Lansdowne. . . . He called upon Lord
Darlington on his way up, and I see his object is to get those
two to take office, as an excuse for himself. He is outrageous at the idea of
Copley* being Chancellor, and told me he
was sure it would never be. . . . As you may believe, he is in a very disturbed
state, and up to his ears in some intrigue or other.”
Henry Peter Brougham, first baron Brougham and Vaux (1778-1868)
Educated at Edinburgh University, he was a founder of the
Edinburgh
Review in which he chastised Byron's
Hours of Idleness; he
defended Queen Caroline in her trial for adultery (1820), established the London University
(1828), and was appointed lord chancellor (1830).
John Singleton Copley, baron Lyndhurst (1772-1863)
The son of the American painter; he did legal work for John Murray before succeeding Lord
Eldon as lord chancellor (1827-30, 1834-35, 1841-46); a skilled lawyer, he was also a
political chameleon.
Thomas Creevey (1768-1838)
Whig politician aligned with Charles James Fox and Henry Brougham; he was MP for Thetford
(1802-06, 1807-18) Appleby (1820-26) and Downton (1831-32). He was convicted of libel in
1813.
William Harry Vane, first duke of Cleveland (1766-1842)
The son of Henry Vane, second earl of Darlington (d. 1792); educated at Christ Church,
Oxford, he was a lifelong friend of Henry Brougham and a notable sportsman.
