Rachel Knowles's Blog, page 18

June 15, 2015

In the shadow of the Battle of Waterloo - three days in June: part 1 - 16 June 1815

The Battle of Waterloo from The wars of Wellington, a narrative poem by Dr Syntax, illustrated by W Heath & JC Stadler (1819) The Battle of Waterloo from The wars of Wellington, a narrative poem
by Dr Syntax, illustrated by W Heath & JC Stadler (1819)According to many who where there, the Battle of Waterloo was the most ferocious engagement of its time. But what was it like for the thousands of civilians living in the nearby city of Brussels? Within earshot of the engagement, they knew that the outcome of the battle would have an immediate impact on their own lives. Should the French win, they would ransack the...
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Published on June 15, 2015 10:57

June 11, 2015

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852)

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington © Rachel Knowles - own collection Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Rachel Knowles - own collectionProfile

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852), was the British military commander famous for defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. He was also a Tory politician and British Prime Minister from 1828-30 and in 1834.
Family background

Arthur Wellesley was born in Dublin on 1 May 1769 (1), the third surviving son of Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington, and his wife Anne Hill, daughte...
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Published on June 11, 2015 15:42

June 3, 2015

Georgians celebrated in London statues

Trafalgar Square, London Trafalgar Square, London

Although I live down by the sea in sunny Weymouth in Dorset, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to visit London on a regular basis as my parents live a short train journey away from the capital. Walking through the streets of London, I always try to spot things with a Georgian connection and my husband, Andrew, obligingly takes lots of photos for me.

This post takes a look at some of the statues in London that commemorate Georgian royalty and other prominent figures...
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Published on June 03, 2015 04:25

May 20, 2015

Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey" and "The Mysteries of Udolpho"

Illustration from The Mysteries of Udolpho (1806 edition) Illustration from The Mysteries of Udolpho (1806 edition)The connection between Northanger Abbey and The Mysteries of Udolpho
The Mysteries of Udolpho by Mrs Ann Radcliffe was published in 1794 and became one of the most popular Gothic novels of its time. I have written a plot summary of the book in another post. The Mysteries of Udolpho has a special attraction to any fan of Jane Austen as it is referred to numerous times in Northanger Abbey. In her novel, Jane Austen delights in poking fun a...
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Published on May 20, 2015 03:07

Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey and The Mysteries of Udolpho

Illustration from The Mysteries of Udolpho (1806 edition) Illustration from The Mysteries of Udolpho (1806 edition)

The connection between Northanger Abbey and The Mysteries of Udolpho

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Mrs Ann Radcliffe was published in 1794 and became one of the most popular Gothic novels of its time. I have written a plot summary of the book in another post. The Mysteries of Udolpho has a special attraction to any fan of Jane Austen as it is referred to numerous times in Northanger Abbey. In her novel, Jane Austen delights in poking fun a...
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Published on May 20, 2015 03:07 Tags: janeausten

May 14, 2015

Sandsfoot Castle, Weymouth, Dorset

Sandsfoot Castle Sandsfoot Castle

Weymouth Castle

On the cliff overlooking Portland Harbour, just a little way along the coast from Weymouth, stand the ruins of Sandsfoot Castle. The castle has been known by various names over the years – Weymouth Castle, Sandes Foot or Sandes Fort – but is now usually referred to as Sandsfoot Castle.

Sandsfoot Castle from the Rodwell trail Sandsfoot Castle from the Rodwell trail

A Tudor blockhouse

Sandsfoot Castle was built as a Tudor blockhouse during the reign of Henry VIII in c1539-41 to protect the south coast of E...
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Published on May 14, 2015 15:04 Tags: weymouth-castle

May 7, 2015

The general election of 1784

The Devonshire, or most approved method of securing votes by Thomas Rowlandson, published by William Humphrey (1784) © British Museum The Devonshire, or most approved method of securing votes
by Thomas Rowlandson, published by William Humphrey (1784)
British Museum

The background to the election

After the resignation of the loyal Lord North in 1782, George III appointed the Whig Lord Rockingham in his place, but he died within a few months of taking office. Perhaps the most obvious successor for leading the cabinet was Charles James Fox, but George III hated Fox and so appointed his rival, Lord Shelburne, as his Prime Minister...
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Published on May 07, 2015 07:51 Tags: devonshire-politics

April 30, 2015

The Prime Ministers of William IV (1830-1837)

Prime Ministers of William IV Left to right: Duke of Wellington, Earl Grey, Viscount Melbourne, Sir Robert Peel (2) Prime Ministers of William IV
Left to right: Duke of Wellington, Earl Grey, Viscount Melbourne, Sir Robert Peel

During William IV's brief reign of just seven years, he had four different Prime Ministers—two Tories and two Whigs. The staunchly Whig Grey's period of office saw great political reform. When he resigned in 1834, his government had seen the passing of the 1832 Reform Act, significantly reforming the electoral system, and the abolition of slavery in the Bri...
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Published on April 30, 2015 02:47 Tags: politics

April 29, 2015

The Prime Ministers of George IV's Regency (1811-20) and reign (1820-30)

Prime Ministers of George IV
Left to right: Lord Liverpool, George Canning,
Viscount Goderich, Duke of Wellington (2)As Prince of Wales, George IV was a strong supporter of the Whig party and had many friends amongst their ranks including Charles James Fox and Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Fox’s support of the French Revolution forced the Prince to distance himself from the Whigs and after Fox’s death in 1806, George’s loyalty to the Whig cause disappeared completely.

By the time he was made Regen...
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Published on April 29, 2015 03:41

April 28, 2015

The Prime Ministers of George III (1760-1820)

4 Prime Ministers of George III From left to right: Lord Bute, Lord North,William Pitt the Younger, Lord Liverpoo 4 Prime Ministers of George III
Left to right: Lord Bute, Lord North,William Pitt the Younger, Lord Liverpool (2) George III is still the longest reigning British King, ruling from 1760 to 1820. He had 14 different Prime Ministers over those 60 years—six Tories and eight Whigs. They included two pairs of fathers and sons: William Pitt the Elder and his son William Pitt the Younger, and George Grenville and his son William Wyndham Grenville. They also included the only British Prime Minister ev...
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Published on April 28, 2015 03:58