Famous English Statesmen of Queen Victoria's Reign

This illustrated volume features information on the associations between various English politicians and Queen Victoria during her reign from 1837 to the time of the volume's publication in 1891. Famous English Statesmen includes chapters on Sir Robert Peel, John Bright and Henry Fawcett. While Victoria held strong relationships with politicians and prime ministers throughout her reign, the one between she and Lord Melbourne, the prime minister at the time of her accession, is the most famous. Possibly because she became Queen just a few weeks after her 18th birthday, the young Victoria frequently asked the Whig Prime Minister Melbourne for advice and counsel. This close relationship resulted in Victoria's being often jeered and taunted with names like "Mrs. Melbourne" during her first years on the throne. Later, when Victoria proved to be an effective leader on her own, people would speak fondly of the bond between the two, noting that Melbourne treated Victoria as if she were his own daughter.