Whig Government 1835-1841

Lord Melbourne's second government came to power after Sir Robert Peel's minority government resigned in 1835. In 1837 Queen Victoria succeeded to the throne, and as was usual for a queen regnant, the Royal Household was appointed by the Prime Minister. The young Queen was so attached to her Whig ladies of the bedchamber that after Melbourne's resignation in 1839, she refused to let Sir Robert Peel replace them with Conservative ladies. This was known as the Bedchamber Crisis, and led to Peel's refusal to form a government. Melbourne therefore resumed, and continued in office until the Conservatives finally won a Commons majority in the General Election of 1841. He was succeeded by Sir Robert Peel's second government.

Members of the Cabinet are indicated by bold face.

Source: C. Cook and B. Keith, British Historical Facts 1830–1900