Henry Goulburn, 1784-1856: A Political Biography

In the early-19th century, Henry Goulburn was at the centre of far-reaching political and economic developments in Britain, during a long and successful career which is traced in this biography. Between 1812 and 1821 he worked in the War and Colonial Office, where he effectively administered Britain's far-flung possessions. He was then appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland - a Protestant to offset a "Catholic" viceroy. As Chancellor of the Exchequer for the Duke of Wellington (1828-30) and Sir Robert Peel (1841-46) he participated in momentous decisions such as Catholic emancipation and the repeal of the Corn Laws. An opponent of parliamentary reform, he worked closely with Peel to build the Conservative Party, and served as parliamentary champion of the Established Church. The book examines the conservative values Goulburn held and the moral dilemma of an essentially good man who depended on slavery for his private income. Modest and loyal, he admitted that he had been content to walk in the shadow of political giants, and this self-effacement helps to account for the lack of wide recognition given to him, but does not detract from his significant contribution to British history.