Earls Grey of Howick

This collection was accumulated largely by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Earls Grey, and the contents relate closely to their public careers and interests. Charles, 2nd Earl Grey (1764-1845) entered Parliament in 1786, and became First Lord of the Admiralty 1806, Foreign Secretary 1806-1807, and Prime Minister 1830-1834. From an early stage in his career he was keenly interested in parliamentary reform, and his administration was responsible for the passage of the 1832 Reform Bill. He was a strong supporter of Catholic emancipation, and his interest in Ireland and in foreign affairs was lifelong. Henry George, 3rd Earl Grey (1802-1894) followed his father into politics in 1826, and served in his father's administration as Under-Secretary for Home Affairs 1830, and Under-Secretary for the Colonies 1830-1834. He entered the cabinet as Secretary at War 1835-1839, and was Secretary of State for the Colonies 1846-1852. He shared his father's strong support for parliamentary reform and Catholic emancipation, and to the end of his long life maintained a vigilant interest in public policy, colonial affairs and Ireland (on which he became a determined opponent of Gladstone's Home Rule policies). The Grey family's close concern with colonial affairs was continued by Albert Henry George, 4th Earl Grey (1851-1917), who was involved in the British South Africa Company, and served as Administrator of Rhodesia 1896-1897 and Governor-General of Canada 1904-1911. The Greys were also strongly interested in Church of England affairs. Their campaigning and reforming politics are reflected in the debates recorded by these pamphlets.

From the guide to the Grey Pamphlets, 1754-1925 (predominantly 1820-1917), (Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections)