Family and Education
b. 15 Mar. 1779, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of Peniston Lamb†, 1st Visct. Melbourne [I], and Elizabeth, da. of Sir Ralph Milbanke†, 5th bt., of Halnaby Hall, Yorks.; bro. of Hon. George Lamb* and Hon. Peniston Lamb†. educ. privately by Rev. Thomas Marsham, curate of Hatfield, 1785-8; Eton 1788-96; Trinity Coll. Camb. 1796; by Prof. John Millar at Glasgow 1799-1801; L. Inn 1797, called 1804. m. 3 June 1805, Lady Caroline Ponsonby, da. of Frederick Ponsonby†, 3rd earl of Bessborough [I], 1s. surv. d.v.p. 1da. d.v.p. suc. fa. as 2nd Visct. Melbourne [I] and 2nd Bar. [UK] 22 July 1828. d. 24 Nov. 1848.
Offices Held
Chief sec. to ld. lt. [I] Apr. 1827 – June 1828; PC [UK] 30 Apr. 1827 and [I] 16 July 1827; sec. of state for home affairs Nov. 1830 – July 1834; first ld. of treasury 16 July – 17 Nov. 1834, 18 Apr. 1835–3 Sept. 1841.
Capt. Herts. vol. inf. 1803, maj. 1804.
Main residence: Brocket Hall, nr. Hatfield, Herts.
Notes
The best biography is P. Ziegler, Melbourne (1976); the 1987 edn. has been used here. L.G. Mitchell, Lord Melbourne (1997) offers an updated version of the psychological study by Lord D. Cecil in The Young Melbourne (1939) and Lord M (1954). See also W.M. Torrens, Mems. Visct. Melbourne (1878), Lord Melbourne’s Pprs. ed. L.C. Sanders (1889) and D. Marshall, Lord Melbourne (1975).
Volume
Commons 1820-1832
Web Title
LAMB, Hon. William (1779-1848)
Will
Estates
Oxford 1644
No
Addresses
Religion
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