William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
(1779-1848), Prime MinisterEarly Victorian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 159 portraits
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 very 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 days of her reign.
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
by Sir Thomas Lawrence
oil on canvas, circa 1805
NPG 5185
The Trial of Queen Caroline 1820
by Sir George Hayter
oil on canvas, 1820-1823
NPG 999
Bowyer Edward Sparke and other figures
by Sir George Hayter
pencil, pen and wash, circa 1820
NPG 2662(12)
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
by Sir Edwin Landseer
oil on panel, 1836
On display in Room 15 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3050
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
by Sir George Hayter
pencil, 1837
NPG 4342
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1838
NPG 316a(87)
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
by Samuel Diez
pencil and wash, 1841
NPG 3103
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
by John Partridge
oil on canvas, 1844
NPG 941
The Fine Arts Commissioners, 1846
by John Partridge
oil on canvas, circa 1846-1853
NPG 342
'The Fine Arts Commissioners, 1846'
by John Partridge
oil on paper, circa 1846
NPG 343a
Sketch for 'The Fine Arts Commissioners, 1846'
by Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
pencil, circa 1846
NPG 343b
Key to 'The Fine Arts Commissioners, 1846'
by Sir George Scharf
pen and ink and wash, 1872
NPG 343c
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne ('Sketched by Humphrey - spoil'd by Gillray')
by James Gillray, published by Robert Wilkinson, after William Humphrey
crayon manner engraving, published 1 November 1781
NPG D12295
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Charles Etienne Pierre Motte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 9 September 1830
NPG D41017
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Charles Etienne Pierre Motte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 17 May 1831
NPG D41064
The State Kennel - Alias Canaille
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Charles Etienne Pierre Motte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 17 October 1831
NPG D41096
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 12 July 1832
NPG D41147
A Game at Cudgels All Among Friends
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 25 May 1833
NPG D41198
Sleeping Partners in a Doubtful Concern
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 13 June 1833
NPG D41203
A Select Specimen of Dignified and Cutting Sarcasm
by John ('HB') Doyle, published by Alfred Ducôte, after Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 1 July 1833
NPG D41205
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 11 July 1833
NPG D41207
The Upsetting of the Reform Coach
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 4 June 1834
NPG D41259
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 14 July 1834
NPG D41265
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 22 July 1834
NPG D41267
by John ('HB') Doyle, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 11 August 1834
NPG D41272
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Ducôte & Stephens, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 1 December 1834
NPG D41290
Unhappy Ghosts Crossing the Styx
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Ducôte & Stephens, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 11 December 1834
NPG D41293
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne ('The Man Wot Carries His Majesty's Letters')
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Ducôte & Stephens, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 24 December 1834
NPG D41296
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Ducôte & Stephens, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 19 January 1835
NPG D41301
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Ducôte & Stephens, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 28 January 1835
NPG D41304
Cast Off Machiners Selling by Auction
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Ducôte & Stephens, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 12 February 1835
NPG D41306
Extraordinary Meeting of Leaders of Opposition
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Ducôte & Stephens, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 3 March 1835
NPG D41309
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Ducôte & Stephens, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 15 May 1835
NPG D41327
Another Stage in the March of Intellect
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Ducôte & Stephens, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 9 June 1835
NPG D41328
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Ducôte & Stephens, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 26 June 1835
NPG D41334
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Ducôte & Stephens, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 10 July 1835
NPG D41335
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Ducôte & Stephens, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 10 July 1835
NPG D41337
See: Dan to Vaux: all and back again
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 29 August 1835
NPG D41342
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 7 October 1835
NPG D41349
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 13 November 1835
NPG D41350
Eve Tempting Adam - in Proper Costume! or The Garden of Stratheden
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 30 January 1836
NPG D41356
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 30 January 1836
NPG D41357
Don Quixote about to Liberate the Galley Slaves
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 30 January 1836
NPG D41358
The New Lord Mayor of Dublin (that is to be)
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 25 March 1836
NPG D41365
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 29 April 1836
NPG D41366
Great Eclipse of 1836 (William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne)
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 18 May 1836
NPG D41371
A Mis-representation of the Ghost Scene in Hamlet
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 1 June 1836
NPG D41372
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 6 June 1836
NPG D41374
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 26 July 1836
NPG D41381
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 26 July 1836
NPG D41382
Popular Dance in Fetters, from the Beggars Opera
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 10 August 1836
NPG D41383
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 29 August 1836
NPG D41386
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 22 October 1836
NPG D41387
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 28 December 1836
NPG D41393
Nursery Rhymes No. 3 (King William IV; Daniel O'Connell; William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne)
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 24 December 1836
NPG D41395
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 24 December 1836
NPG D41398
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 16 February 1837
NPG D41403
Fancy Ball - Jim Crow Dance & Chorus
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 17 April 1837
NPG D41412
Something Between the Sublime & the Ridiculous
by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 27 April 1837
NPG D41413
Related People
- Lady Caroline Lamb (wife)
- George Lamb (brother)
- Peniston Lamb (brother)
- Elizabeth Lamb (née Milbanke), Viscountess Melbourne (mother)
- Frederick James Lamb, 3rd Viscount Melbourne (brother)
- Emily Mary ('Amelia') (née Lamb), Viscountess Palmerston (sister)
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