Canningite
Encyclopedia
Canningites was the name used for a faction of British
Tories in the first decade of the 19th century through the 1820s who were led by George Canning
. The Canningites were distinct within the Tory party because they favoured Catholic emancipation and freer trade.
After the incapacity of Lord Liverpool
in 1827, Canning was asked to form a government. Because Canning did not have the full support of the Tory party, he created a coalition government with his Canningites allying themselves with the Whigs
. Canning died in August 1827 and the Canningite Lord Goderich
became Prime Minister, but his government collapsed in January 1828. The Canningites then allied themselves with the Tories, led by the Duke of Wellington
. They resigned in May 1828, though, on the issue of allocating seats from disenfranchised corrupt boroughs to the new growing cities of England.
Now usually known as the 'Huskissonites' (after their new leader, William Huskisson
) the group numbered a bare dozen or so in the House of Commons, with greater support in the House of Lords. For the next year and half they acted a separate group between the two main parties, and were courted by both. After Huskisson died in 1830 (in a railway accident, the first recorded casualty of this new form of transport) , the remainder of the group decided to join the Whigs and voted against the Tory government in a parliamentary in favour of electoral reform. Wellington resigned as prime minister and the surviving Canningite/Huskissonites joined the new Whig cabinet of Earl Grey
in November 1830. Very soon after they ceased to act as a recognisable separate political grouping.
In addition to Goderich and Huskisson, prominent Canningites included:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Tories in the first decade of the 19th century through the 1820s who were led by George Canning
George Canning
George Canning PC, FRS was a British statesman and politician who served as Foreign Secretary and briefly Prime Minister.-Early life: 1770–1793:...
. The Canningites were distinct within the Tory party because they favoured Catholic emancipation and freer trade.
After the incapacity of Lord Liverpool
Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool
Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool KG PC was a British politician and the longest-serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since the Union with Ireland in 1801. He was 42 years old when he became premier in 1812 which made him younger than all of his successors to date...
in 1827, Canning was asked to form a government. Because Canning did not have the full support of the Tory party, he created a coalition government with his Canningites allying themselves with the Whigs
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
. Canning died in August 1827 and the Canningite Lord Goderich
Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich
Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon PC , styled The Honourable F. J. Robinson until 1827 and known as The Viscount Goderich between 1827 and 1833, the name by which he is best known to history, was a British statesman...
became Prime Minister, but his government collapsed in January 1828. The Canningites then allied themselves with the Tories, led by the Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
. They resigned in May 1828, though, on the issue of allocating seats from disenfranchised corrupt boroughs to the new growing cities of England.
Now usually known as the 'Huskissonites' (after their new leader, William Huskisson
William Huskisson
William Huskisson PC was a British statesman, financier, and Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including Liverpool...
) the group numbered a bare dozen or so in the House of Commons, with greater support in the House of Lords. For the next year and half they acted a separate group between the two main parties, and were courted by both. After Huskisson died in 1830 (in a railway accident, the first recorded casualty of this new form of transport) , the remainder of the group decided to join the Whigs and voted against the Tory government in a parliamentary in favour of electoral reform. Wellington resigned as prime minister and the surviving Canningite/Huskissonites joined the new Whig cabinet of Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, KG, PC , known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 22 November 1830 to 16 July 1834. A member of the Whig Party, he backed significant reform of the British government and was among the...
in November 1830. Very soon after they ceased to act as a recognisable separate political grouping.
In addition to Goderich and Huskisson, prominent Canningites included:
- Granville Leveson-GowerGranville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl GranvilleGranville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Granville GCB PC , known as Lord Granville Leveson-Gower from 1786 to 1814 and as the Viscount Granville from 1814 to 1833, was a British Whig statesman and diplomat....
- Edward John Littleton
- Lord MelbourneWilliam Lamb, 2nd Viscount MelbourneWilliam Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, PC, FRS was a British Whig statesman who served as Home Secretary and Prime Minister . He is best known for his intense and successful mentoring of Queen Victoria, at ages 18-21, in the ways of politics...
- Viscount Palmerston
- William Sturges BourneWilliam Sturges BourneWilliam Sturges-Bourne PC , known as William Sturges until 1803, was a British Tory politician. He was briefly Home Secretary under George Canning in 1827.-Background and education:...
- Robert John Wilmot-Horton
- Charles GrantCharles Grant, 1st Baron GlenelgCharles Grant, 1st Baron Glenelg PC FRS was a Scottish politician and colonial administrator.-Background and education:...