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William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne

(1779-1848), Prime Minister

Early 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.

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William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, by Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG 5185

William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne

by Sir Thomas Lawrence
oil on canvas, circa 1805
On display in Room 20 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 5185

The Trial of Queen Caroline 1820, by Sir George Hayter - NPG 999

The Trial of Queen Caroline 1820

by Sir George Hayter
oil on canvas, 1820-1823
On display in Room 17 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 999

Bowyer Edward Sparke and other figures, by Sir George Hayter - NPG 2662(12)

Bowyer Edward Sparke and other figures

by Sir George Hayter
pencil, pen and wash, circa 1820
NPG 2662(12)

The House of Commons, 1833, by Sir George Hayter - NPG 54

The House of Commons, 1833

by Sir George Hayter
oil on canvas, 1833-1843
On display in Room 20 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 54

William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, by Edwin Landseer - NPG 3050

William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne

by Edwin Landseer
oil on panel, 1836
On display at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, USA
NPG 3050

William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, by Sir George Hayter - NPG 4342

William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne

by Sir George Hayter
pencil, 1837
NPG 4342

William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey - NPG 316a(87)

William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne

by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1838
NPG 316a(87)

William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, by Samuel Diez - NPG 3103

William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne

by Samuel Diez
pencil and wash, 1841
NPG 3103

William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, by John Partridge - NPG 941

William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne

by John Partridge
oil on canvas, 1844
On display in Room 21 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 941

The Fine Arts Commissioners, 1846, by John Partridge - NPG 342

The Fine Arts Commissioners, 1846

by John Partridge
oil on canvas, circa 1846-1853
NPG 342

'The Fine Arts Commissioners, 1846', by John Partridge - NPG 343a

'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-Gotha - NPG 343b

Sketch for 'The Fine Arts Commissioners, 1846'

by Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
pencil, circa 1846
NPG 343b

Key to 'The Fine Arts Commissioners, 1846', by Sir George Scharf - NPG 343c

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 - NPG D12295

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

The Noddle Bazaar, by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Charles Etienne Pierre Motte, published by Thomas McLean - NPG D41017

The Noddle Bazaar

by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Charles Etienne Pierre Motte, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 9 September 1830
NPG D41017

What's in the Wind Now? Here's Will'any in the Wind. (King William IV; William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne), by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Charles Etienne Pierre Motte, published by Thomas McLean - NPG D41064

What's in the Wind Now? Here's Will'any in the Wind. (King William IV; William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne)

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 - NPG D41096

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

A Parliamentary Group, by John ('HB') Doyle, printed by Alfred Ducôte, published by Thomas McLean - NPG D41147

A Parliamentary Group

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 - NPG D41198

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 - NPG D41203

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

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