William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne 1779-1848. Early 19th.Century pencil portrait drawing. British School Ca.1800. Circle of Sir Thomas Lawrence P.R.A. 23 by 27.5 cms to mounted oval. 31 by 37 cms overall. Drawn on wove paper laid on to card. Some areas of retouching to historic salt and water staining.
Melbourne was a Whig MP from 1806, Irish Secretary under Canning and Home Secretary under Lord Grey, 1830-34. After Grey's resignation he was appointed Prime Minister, a position he held twice (1834, 1835-41). He married the poet Lady Caroline Lamb in 1805 but they separated in 1825 following her infamous affair with the Romantic poet Lord Byron. Melbourne advised the young Queen Victoria and she became devoted to him, to the extent that she was criticised for too partisan an approach to political issues, and rumours of a romantic attachment between them proliferated in the early years of her reign.