George Howard, the eldest son of Francis Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle,
was born on 18th April, 1802. He was educated at Eton
and Christ Church, Oxford. On the death
of his grandfather in September 1825 he was granted the courtesy title,
Lord Morpeth. In 1826, the Earl of Carlisle arranged for his son to
be elected for the constituency of Morpeth,
one of the boroughs under his control.
Lord Morpeth was a supporter of the Whigs
and took a particular interest in removing all religious forms of
discrimination. In his maiden speech he seconded Sir
Francis Burdett in his attempt to bring an end to Roman
Catholic disabilities. The following year he was active in the
campaign to repeal Jewish disabilities.
A supporter of parliamentary reform, Lord Morpeth left the pocket
borough of Morpeth and became one of the
Whig candidates for Yorkshire. In the general
election in August 1830 Lord Morpeth headed the poll. In the debate
on the Reform Act in March 1831 he called
the proposed measure "a safe, wise, honest, and glorious measure'.
In April 1835 Lord Melbourne appointed
Lord Morpeth as his chief secretary for Ireland. Morpeth held the
post for six years and during this time he carried through Parliament
several reforms including the Irish Tithe Bill, the Irish Municipal
Reform Bill and the Irish Poor Law Bill.
George Howard became the 7th Earl of Carlisle on the death of his
father on 8th August 1858. George Howard died in 1864.
John
Doyle produced this cartoon
showing John Bull (public opinion) helping
Earl Grey against the Duke
of Wellington and King William IV
(May 1832)
(1)
Lord Morpeth, letter to Lord Althorp (26th
December 1832)
As I have just finished an extensive canvass of the largest constituent
body in Britain, and in the progress of it have undergone several
courses of interrogation, as well as heard much expression of opinion,
it has struck me that it might not be altogether useless if I were
to put down upon paper my general impression of the present state
of public feeling.
Of Toryism I saw and heard nothing, and in large manufacturing districts
it is entirely powerless. Of Radicalism I found infinitely less than
I expected. I am aware that this is in part to be attributed to employment
being less tolerably plentiful, and trade healthy, though not brilliant;
distress would soon call into play a large floating mass of discontent.
Several political unions attempted a demonstration against me on the
grounds of my birth and my not being supposed to carry some liberal
opinions so far.
The general feeling is very keen in favour of a full measure of Church
Reform, but I do not think there is any prevalent wish to destroy
the Establishment. Church Rates are the great rock of offence, I should
say, more than tithes; but then I speak of a manufacturing district
community. The power of the Bishops is not viewed with favour; cheap
bread, more corn, a fixed duty of very moderate amount - but these
are battles which we manufacturers must fight for ourselves.
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