Born #OTD 1754, John Lemon. MP for West Looe, Saltash, and then Truro. Francis Basset, 1st Baron De Dunstanville said of Lemon: "though I have the highest regard for Lemon and know his many valuable qualities, he is the strangest politician I ever knew": Find out why: buff.ly/yMRQpQx

Died #OnThisDay 1884 Henry Fawcett, the first completely blind MP. He sat as a Liberal for Brighton 1865-74, & Hackney 1874-84. For more on him & the wife, the leading suffragist, Millicent Garrett Fawcett, see our earlier post: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2018/07/19/m...

Today marks 111 years since the first Member of Parliament was killed in action during the First World War. Head to the #HistParl website to read our short biography of Captain Arthur O'Neill, MP for Mid Antrim.

Many will be awaking this morning after an evening of fireworks and festivities. However, as Dr Robin Eagles has explored, on the centenery of the Glorious Revolution, the 4th and 5th November were eyed for a different lasting memorial: historyofparliament.com/2025/11/06/c...

How was the #GunpowderPlot foiled back in 1605? In this #HistParl article, Dr Ben Coates explores the warning letter sent to a Catholic peer that led to the plot's undoing... #BonfireNight

It is #BonfireNight 🎆 and many of you will be celebrating the uncovering of the #GunpowderPlot. But do you know who the brains behind this plot was? Maybe it was Guy Fawkes or maybe someone a little less well known... Find out here:

1/ With today's #BonfireNight celebrations, we are fittingly looking at the historic constituency of Lewes. Represented since the 1295 Model Parliament, Lewes is not only home to major political events, but also a unique tradition of bonfire celebrations. 🎆

On 11 November, Steven Spencer of Birkbeck, University of London, will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics & People Seminar, where he will be presenting on 'The campaign to pass the Criminal Law Amendment Bill' Find out more about his paper and how to attend below: buff.ly/OTB2wDo

#OTD 1605, Guy Fawkes was found in the cellars below the House of Lords chamber. He and fellow conspirators had planned to detonate 36 barrels of gunpowder at the State Opening of Parliament on 5 November. Find out about the men who caught Fawkes here👇

Come and say hello to the #HistParl team at History Day next week! We're excited to talk about our research and catch up with new and old friends working in the sector. Find out more via @ihr.bsky.social #HistDay25

#OTD 1839, government forces and Welsh Chartists clashed during the Newport Rising, now remembered as an iconic moment in the struggle for democratic rights in Britain. Find out more via Dr Philip Salmon's #HistParl article from 2019.

#OTD 1761, Sir John Cust was elected Speaker of the House of Commons. Traditionally MPs feign their reluctance for the post when appointed Speaker, however Cust's objections to taking the chair may not have been faked... Find out more here: historyofparliament.com/2022/04/26/s...

Born #OTD 1934, Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking, Conservative MP for multiple constitutences from 1968 to 1997 and Home Secretary under John Major. He also participated in our #OralHistory project in 2012. www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/oral-...

Born #OTD 1470, Edward V. The accession of the young Edward to the throne in April 1483 occurred after the passing of his father Edward IV. However, as Dr Hannes Kleineke explores, only two months later he would be deposed:

Born #OTD 1923, James Ramsden, Conservative MP for Harrogate, 1954 to 1974, and the last person to hold the position of Secretary of State for War. In 2012 he participated in our #OralHistory project: www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/oral-...

Died #OTD 1854, Benjamin Rotch, Whig MP for Knaresborough, 1832-1835. His brief time in Parliament was just one part of an eclectic life and career that included the Nantucket whaling industry, patent law, prison reform, and even a threatened duel :

The Hellfire Club - a lively social club, or a place for devil worship? With prominent members such as John Wilkes and Sir Francis Dashwood, this #Halloween we are exploring what exactly happened at these meetings at Medmenham Abbey 👇

Come and say hello to the #HistParl team at History Day next week! We're excited to talk about our research and catch up with new and old friends working in the sector. Find out more via @ihr.bsky.social #HistDay25

An excellent piece on the long struggle for women's political rights - in this case, not the right to vote or to sit as MPs, but simply to be allowed to watch debates from behind a screen in the House.

New to the #HistParl site, @kathrynrix.bsky.social looks at the provision made for women to witness debates in the temporary chamber used by the Commons between 1835 and 1852: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/30/t...

Born #OTD 1941, Paul Tyler, Baron Tyler. In February 1974, he became the Liberal MP for Bodmin with a majority of 9 votes, one of the smallest in British history. He lost the seat at the October '74 election, and would later serve as the MP for North Cornwall from 1992 to 2005.

#OTD 1618, Sir Walter Ralegh was executed after leading an expedition that violated a peace treaty with Spain. Best known as an explorer, Ralegh was also an MP for nearly twenty years. Read his #HistParl biography to find out more. 👇

Tonight Dr Mari Takayanagi will be speaking at the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People Seminar where she will be discussing her paper 'The Speakers and the Suffragettes'. You can either attend online or in-person, details of which can be found below:

Born #OTD 1928, Bill Rodgers, MP for Stockton-on-Tees from 1962 to 1983. He was one of the 'Gang of Four' that left Labour to found the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1981. He later became leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords: www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/oral-...

Bonfire night is fast approaching, but let us give you a cautionary tale from the late 17th century... #OTD 1697 Lord Jermyn was hit in the face with a squib and blinded. Read more here:

We also have a Charles Lyttelton among our current batch (not to mention a Charles Littleton in the section...), who served as bishop of Carlisle 1762-68. A draft should be in the works in due course. #HistParl

Charles George Lyttelton, born #OnThisDay 1842, became Liberal MP for East Worcestershire at a by-election in June 1868. He was one of the most accomplished cricketers to sit in the Commons, as our post on him explored: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2016/04/26/t...

#OTD 1775 George III issued a proclamation of rebellion in a speech from the throne, a key event in the lead-up to the American Revolution. For more on this, check out this recent #HistParl article.

Born #OTD 1753, Robert Buxton. MP for Thetford and then Great Bedwyn, Buxton was a staunch supporter of William Pitt, as well as an advocate for the abolition of the slave trade, stating in 1796 'could he, as an Englishman, do otherwise?’: www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-...

In a guest article for #HistParl, Dr Sophie Aldred explores the library of Lord Robartes and what it tells us of his political position during the revolutionary years of the 1640s. 📚 historyofparliament.com/2025/10/27/j...

#OTD 1640 the Treaty of Ripon was signed by Charles I. This signalled the end of two years of war against his Scottish subjects – the so-called Bishops’ Wars – but peace came at a price. Find out what happened next 👇

#OTD 1760, George III succeeded the throne of Great Britain and Ireland after the death of his grandfather George II. His and Queen Charlotte's coronation would not take place until September 1761. Dr Robin Eagles wrote about the lavish event:

Born #OnThisDay 1792 William Collins, Radical MP for Warwick, 1837-52. He was among the minority of 46 MPs who voted in support of the 1839 Chartist petition. There’s more on the Victorian Commons & Chartism here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/t...

Died #OTD Edward Smith Stanley, 14th earl of Derby, Conservative Prime Minister on three brief occasions between between 1852 and 1866. To date, he is the longest serving leader of the Conservative Party, serving for 22 years.

Born #OTD 1967, Oona King, Baroness King of Bow, Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow from 1997 to 2005. She was the second black woman elected to Parliament, after Diane Abbott in 1987.

Died #OTD 1687, Edmund Waller. Serving as an MP since 1624, in 1643 Waller was involved in a royalist conspiracy to capture London known as ‘Waller’s Plot’. Although other conspirators were hanged, Waller bought his own stay of execution for £10,000. buff.ly/CwKftHR

Moving in day at the new office for @histparl.bsky.social. Lots of unpacking has happened.

On 28 October, Dr Mari Takayanagi will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics & People Seminar, where she will be presenting on 'The Speakers and the Suffragettes'. Find out more about the paper and how to attend below: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/21/t...

Our assistant editor @kathrynrix.bsky.social and our @histparl.bsky.social colleague @emmapeplow.bsky.social appeared this morning on a special Radio 4 programme marking the 80th anniversary of 'Today in Parliament'. If you missed it at 5 a.m.(!), catch up here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Died #OTD 1723 Godfrey Kneller. A leading portrait artist in the late Stuart and early Georgian era, in 1689 he was appointed (joint) Principal Painter in the royal household, a position he held until his death. His work included many famous Parliamentarians as you can see below:

Born #OTD 1928, Dick Taverne, MP for Lincoln from 1962 to 1974. Originally a Labour MP, after being deselected by his local party, Taverne resigned his seat and won re-election in a dramatic by-election victory in 1973. www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/oral-...

Died #OTD 1918, Hon. Charles Henry Lyell, Liberal MP for East Dorset, 1904-10, and Edinburgh South, 1910-17. . Find out more via Dr Kathryn Rix's 2018 article, as part of a series on MPs who died during the First World War:

In October 1660, many of the 59 commissioners who signed Charles I's death warrant were executed, after the monarchy was restored. Richard Ingolsby was not one of those men, claiming that Oliver Cromwell forced him to sign it. But was this true? historyofparliament.com/2024/01/30/r...

For more information on John Wilkes, head over to our TikTok, where we explore the story of his election, imprisonment and re-election in Middlesex 1768-9:

Today marks the 300th birthday of the radical MP John Wilkes. To commemorate this, we are looking back at his storied parliamentary career: (1/6)

We reflected on Professor Rush's career and the development of his groundbreaking Database on the #HistParl website. Read about it here: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/15/m...

The History of Parliament team were very sad to hear of the recent death of Professor Michael Rush. A pioneering scholar of parliament, Professor Rush's work on the social background of MPs and resulting Database stands as a fundamental source for generations of historians and political scientists.

Born #OTD 1890, Michael Collins, Irish revolutionary. Collins was elected to Parliament in 1918, but like other members of Sinn Féin, refused to take his seat. Instead they established an Irish Parliament (the Dáil) in Dublin and declared independence. 🧵 (1/3)

Born #OTD 1944, David Trimble, Baron Trimble, Ulster Unionist MP for Upper Bann from 1990 to 2005. A key figure in the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement, ending the Troubles, he would serve as the inaugural First Minister of Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2002.

The History of Parliament team were very sad to hear of the recent death of Professor Michael Rush. A pioneering scholar of parliament, Professor Rush's work on the social background of MPs and resulting Database stands as a fundamental source for generations of historians and political scientists.