Charles Grey - The Man on the Monument
Talk by Professor John Derry. Review by Richard Appleby
Charles Grey was born on 13th March 1764 at Fallodon in Northumberland. He went to school at the age of eight in Marylebone, London then on to Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge although he failed to get a degree. In 1786 he went on a grand tour of Europe and was elected MP for Northumberland. In the House of Commons he attached himself to the party of Charles James Fox in opposition to William Pitt. It was the age of hostesses and, among several affairs, Grey had a love affair with Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire. He had fifteen legitimate children and an illegitimate daughter.
Three themes dominated Grey’s career: peace and retrenchment, civil and religious liberties and moderate reform of parliament. Pitt was forced out of office in 1801 and died in 1806. Fox became Chancellor of the Exchequer and Grey First Lord of the Admiralty. When Fox died Grey became Foreign Secretary, but in 1807 he lost his seat because the Duke of Northumberland changed sides: Grey then spent many frustrating years in opposition until in 1827 George IV asked Wellington to form a government and the Catholic question came to the fore. When George IV died in 1830 a General Election took place and William IV asked Grey to form a Coalition Government. Grey introduced his proposal for reform of parliament, which was more a redistribution of seats than a radical measure. This was when Leeds, Manchester and Gateshead got representation. He also introduced electoral registers and rationalised franchises in the Counties. Professor Derry was of the opinion that Grey got the balance right in establishing a precedent for reform through politics rather than revolution or violence. Grey later abolished slavery, reformed the Poor Laws, repealed the Test and Corporation Acts and gave public money to education.
In 1834 he felt he had achieved all he wanted and resigned. He died in July 1845 and was buried at Howick Hall. The well known Grey Street Monument was erected by public subscription in 1838 while Grey was still alive. The column cost £1700 and statue £700. Professor Derry gave an excellent talk for an hour without a note and the venue, known previously as Newlands, and used for the first time by the Society, was very good indeed.
City and County
August 2011
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