"The business of Plays is to recommend Virtue and discountenance Vice; to shew the Uncertainty of humane greatness, the suddain Turns of Fate, and the Unhappy Conclusions of Violence and Injustice" Jeremy Collier, critic of theatre and non-juring Anglican bishop, born #OTD 1650

We have two jobs at KCL History! 16-month post in Modern Irish and/or British History: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOU178/l... And 5-year post in Early Modern Europe & The World: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOU182/l... (both to start in January 2026)

The IHR Tudor and Stuart seminar has joined Bluesky! Please follow and RT! Our programme for the year is starting NEXT WEEK on Monday 29 September with Alison Knight @aeknight.bsky.social speaking on 'Certificates of Religion: Early Modern Belief on Paper'. Online and in-person, 5.30pm Book here:

Robin Eagles of @histparl.bsky.social has a piece in the latest edition of @historytoday.com on John Wilkes, whose 300th birthday is coming up in October. #WilkesandLiberty #HistParl

Does anyone know of a list of early modern and c18th English spellings of words? i.e. a list of alternative spellings, such as 'publick' for publick, 'Wyllyam' for William, and so on? Surely such a thing must have been compiled? #History #LinguisticHistory 🗃️

THIS IS IT! You have until 11.59pm TONIGHT to submit your proposals for #BSECS2026 Ease yourself into the New Year by joining us @pembrokeoxford.bsky.social, 7-9 January 2026 #skystorians #18thC 🗃️ www.bsecs.org.uk/conferences/...

Comparing accounts of the debates on the May 1742 indemnity bill across Timberland, Cobbett and that of the 3rd earl of Oxford's journal. Neither Timberland nor Cobbett (based on Dr Johnson in the Gentleman's Mag) reflect the keywords Oxford mentions; but Secker's account (also in Cobbett) does...

IT'S PUBLICATION DAY British By-Elections 1769-2025 is out today. 732 pages covering 88 by-elections. Thanks to all 87 contributors who wrote the essays. Order your signed copy here www.politicos.co.uk/products/by-...

On the death of Sir Robert Walpole, earl of Orford, in 1745, it was estimated that his family held places worth £28,800 a year from the public purse - equivalent to north of £3,300,000 in modern terms (and possibly much more, depending on how one calculates)...

Even in the 18th century, politics often came down to trying to shore up support by taking the trouble to dine with the foot soldiers. Under pressure in December 1741, this is what Robert Walpole did to try to ensure his candidate became chairman of the elections committee. They lost it by 4 votes.

In 1748 Charles Palmer, Deputy Sergeant to the House of Commons released a volume of Aphorisms and Historical Observations, subscribed to by numerous MPs. In 1749, fearing ruin, he appealed to them to pay up. The book was available at, among other places, the Vote Office in the Commons' Lobby...

James II & VII, England (and Scotland)'s last Catholic monarch died #OnThisDay 1701 in exile in France. In the winter of 1688 he fled the kingdom following the successful invasion by William of Orange, who became King William III, ruling jointly with James's elder daughter, Queen Mary II.

New post on the @histparl.bsky.social site from Robin Eagles on the long history of the family of HRH the late Duchess of Kent: historyofparliament.com/2025/09/16/t...

A wonderful milestone for the Victoria County History - and this event will be a joyful celebration and fascinating conversation for anyone interested in #LocalHistory, #place histories, #CommunityHistory and #heritage. Book your free place via the link below. #skystorians

"In 1086 Hugh son of Baldric had two ploughs in Hovingham", which is certainly an improvement on a single enormous turnip...

"The Visitation of Lancashire by Sir William Dugdale, cannot be depended upon after the letter R..." You have been warned... #skystorians #genealogy

An early present in the post today... Delighted to take possession of this latest brilliant collection by @iaindale.bsky.social There may just be a mention of John Wilkes at the beginning... #HistParl

Family was such an important thing for many 18th-century politicians. The significance of the 'clan' often cut across 'party' lines, but for some it was even more vital: "In the mind of Edward Harley (3rd earl of Oxford) the Harley legacy exercised a much greater influence than normal family piety"

Our friends at VCH Herefordshire are pleased to advertise two consultant editorial and research roles which will contribute to the completion of existing work around Ledbury and the Malvern Hills. The roles combine editing & primary research. For more details, see below. #Skystorians #HistoryJob

Identifying prominent 18th-century politicians as Jacobite is always tricky, and no doubt there were a number who trod a fine line. However, beginning to scratch away at the 3rd earl of Oxford, and enjoying the masterly demolition of the case for him being a Jacobite by Jones and Taylor...

In 1744, Parliament received an account of the number of horses lost (killed) at the battle of Dettingen. These amounted to: horse (ie cavalry) 99 - valued at £20 each - £1,980 dragoons 232 - valued at £15 each - £3,480 Total losses 331 - value £5,460 The sums including the value of their tack &c

"Among the private individuals, peers owned about 12 per cent of livings, although these were - as they remain - geographically unbalanced." As John Cannon points out this was c.1,200 of the 9,800 livings, and overlooks posts, such as prebendaries, or livings in the gift of close relations

Anyone else having problems with the @bsecs.bsky.social submission portal at the moment? Password requests were sent yesterday but have still not arrived! #skystorians

@bsecs.bsky.social - I am trying to log in to submit a proposal for the next conference, but can't seem to get a new password link sent. Is there a problem with the system at the moment? Many thanks.

British History 1500-1900 at Christ's College, Cambridge. Deadline 26 September. www.christs.cam.ac.uk/college-lect...

Makes for a very apposite day for @brushingboots.bsky.social to be launching her new book: Heirs and Graces: A History of the Modern Aristocracy www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/807750...

A very interesting piece. As a follow-up read, we might suggest our article on horses and 19th century politics: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2023/02/10/t...

New on the Georgian Lords by @chountisdefabbri.bsky.social: how horse racing shaped the Rockingham administration... historyofparliament.com/2025/09/04/f...

Today we welcome a guest post for the Georgian Lords by @chountisdefabbri.bsky.social looking at the importance of racing to the Rockingham Whigs... @histparl.bsky.social #skystorians

My book Heirs and Graces, a history of the modern British aristocracy, is out TOMORROW! www.penguin.co.uk/books/453305...

We appear to have come up with a blank on the identity of the author of the unpublished Philip Francis biography. However, channeling our inner Bagpuss, we will be taking the draft with us to our new offices and we hope may one day find a lost owner...

Tragic letter from the 7-year-old Viscount Campden (future 5th earl of Gainsborough) to his older sister, Lady Jane Noel, in 1747: 'Bunny was put in the stillhouse and we cant find her. Maybe ye dogs have eat her' Puts that year's snap general election into proper perspective.

#OTD 1752, Britain went to bed like usual. But when they awoke, it was ‘eleven days later’ on Thursday 14 September. Find out why...👇 @georgianlords.bsky.social

The 6th Earl Ferrers was thought of as a bit of a financial genius. He was always coming up with schemes, one of which was to save money on the post by getting Royal Navy frigates to carry the mail instead. Oddly, none of his schemes came to anything.

The deadline for submitting proposals for #BSECS2026 is only two weeks away. Get scribbling! #skystorians #18thC 🗃️ This year's theme is 'Big and Small', 7-9 January, Pembroke College, Oxford. www.bsecs.org.uk/conferences/...

New on the @histparl.bsky.social site is one of my favourite MPs to research, because of the range of his interests. Who doesn't want to know more about ‘Drinkwater Rotch, the Sheep-shearing Magistrate’, who challenged the lord mayor of London to a duel?! historyofparliament.com/2025/08/31/l...

Anyone with any ideas about the mystery author of an unpublished (?) biography of Sir Philip Francis, please do get in touch. We have an incomplete draft in the @histparl.bsky.social offices and are trying to decide what to do with it... #skystorians

Attending George II's coronation in 1727 wasn't cheap. Lady Foley was said to be spending more than £400 on new robes, though one correspondent suggested there was a reason for the extra outlay: 'she will want indeed for her circumference some more yards of velvet and ermine than other ladies'

Calling the #skystorians hive-mind. In the process of clearing out files at @histparl.bsky.social we have come across part of an apparently unpublished biography of Sir Philip Francis. The treatment suggests it would have covered 18 chapters. Any ideas who the author may have been?

There’s still plenty of time to submit an entry to the Parliamentary History Essay Prize!

Back rummaging into the reassuringly named Sir John Griffin Whitwell Griffin (later Griffin Griffin), who eventually secured elevation to the Lords when the barony of Howard de Walden was called out of abeyance. A full field marshal, the sort of character one comes across in Evelyn Waugh...

A bit of genealogical back and forth over the origins of the Fanes, earls of Westmorland. Tradition points to them being descended from a pre-Conquest family of Welsh knights/noblemen. Oswald Barron in the Ancestor (1905) rejects this and traces them back to Kentish yeomen or husbandmen.

For #internationaldogday - apparently the 8th earl of Exeter's favourite companion was his spaniel, Diddle. There is a painting of Diddle (with game) at Burghley House.

According to our very own @histparl.bsky.social account of the 1722 general election at Devizes, sitting Member Josiah Diston was roundly rejected with no votes. However, a contemporary newspaper suggests he fared a bit better and got... 2 votes. www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1715-...

(Sir) Robert Walpole, subsequently earl of Orford, was born #OnThisDay 1676. A member of a Norfolk parliamentary dynasty, he emerged as 'Prime Minister' in the 1720s and retained his place until 1742 when he was sent to the Lords. For many, Walpole sums up the best and worst of 18th-century politics

Born #OTD 1676, Robert Walpole, the man generally thought of as Britain's first Prime Minister. But how did he rise to the top spot? And how did he stay there? Luckily Dr Robin Eagles @GeorgianLords explains all 👇 youtu.be/I_eJ7wX-ABQ

Transported to the 1920s... @hillaryburlock.bsky.social orangetreetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/the...

So I’ve started a #Substack to share stories from my new book #Heiressss plus general history thoughts now I’m free from the book, but I currently have a grand total of 4 subscribers! Please join me there if you’d like to. Any tips on dos & don’ts also welcome! substack.com/@drmirandaka...

🚨 Fellowship Opportunities at UCL History 🚨 Are you an early career researcher ready to take the next step? ⭐ Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships (2025–26) Deadline: 4pm, Mon 6 Oct 2025 ⭐British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships Deadline: Mon 8 Sept 2025 👉 Apply here: shorturl.at/r1f9Q

We are very sorry to hear of Frank O'Gorman's death. His work made a huge contribution to the history of elections and he was kind enough to support our House of Commons, 1832-68 project by writing some articles for us.