The second Lord Melbourne ministry was formed in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland by the William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne in 1835.
History Lord Melbourne's second government came to power after Sir Robert Peel's minority government resigned in 1835. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston returned as Foreign Secretary while Lord John Russell held his first major office as Home Secretary.
In 1837 Queen Victoria succeeded to the throne, and as was usual for a queen regnant, the Royal Household was appointed by the prime minister. The young queen was so attached to her Whig ladies of the bedchamber that after Melbourne's resignation in 1839, she refused to let Sir Robert Peel replace them with Conservative ladies. This was known as the Bedchamber Crisis, and led to Peel's refusal to form a government. Melbourne therefore resumed, and continued in office until the Conservatives finally won a House of Commons majority in the General Election of 1841. He was succeeded by Sir Robert Peel's second government.
1841 votes of no confidence
The 1841 votes of no confidence against the government of Viscount Melbourne were votes of no confidence in the government of William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne which occurred on 7 June 1841. Melbourne lost the vote by only one vote and dissolved Parliament leading to an election in July 1841. Melbourne lost a second vote of confidence shortly after the election in August, leading to his resignation.
Cabinets
April 1835 – August 1839 OfficeNameTermFirst Lord of the TreasuryWilliam Lamb, 2nd Viscount MelbourneApril 1835 – August 1839Lord ChancellorIn CommissionApril 1835 – January 1836Charles Pepys, 1st Baron CottenhamJanuary 1836 – August 1839Lord President of the CouncilHenry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of LansdowneApril 1835 – August 1839Lord Privy SealJohn Ponsonby, Viscount DuncannonApril 1835 – August 1839Home SecretaryLord John RussellApril 1835 – August 1839Foreign SecretaryHenry John Temple, 3rd Viscount PalmerstonApril 1835 – August 1839Secretary of State for War and the ColoniesCharles Grant, 1st Baron GlenelgApril 1835 – February 1839Constantine Henry Phipps, 1st Marquess of NormanbyFebruary–August 1839First Lord of the AdmiraltyGeorge Eden, 2nd Baron AucklandApril–September 1835Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 2nd Earl of MintoSeptember 1835 – August 1839Chancellor of the ExchequerThomas Spring RiceApril 1835 – August 1839President of the Board of TradeCharles Poulett ThomsonApril 1835 – August 1839President of the Board of ControlSir John Cam HobhouseApril 1835 – August 1839First Commissioner of Woods and ForestsJohn Ponsonby, Viscount DuncannonApril 1835 – August 1839Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterHenry Richard Vassall-Fox, 3rd Baron HollandApril 1835 – August 1839Secretary at WarHenry Grey, Viscount HowickApril 1835 – August 1839
Notes Viscount Duncannon served concurrently as Lord Privy Seal and First Commissioner of Woods and Forests.
August 1839 – September 1841 OfficeNameTermFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of LordsWilliam Lamb, 2nd Viscount MelbourneAugust 1839 – September 1841Lord ChancellorCharles Pepys, 1st Baron CottenhamAugust 1839 – September 1841Lord President of the CouncilHenry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of LansdowneAugust 1839 – September 1841Lord Privy Seal John Ponsonby, Viscount DuncannonAugust 1839 – January 1840George Villiers, 4th Earl of ClarendonJanuary 1840 – September 1841Home SecretaryConstantine Henry Phipps, 1st Marquess of NormanbyAugust 1839 – September 1841Foreign SecretaryHenry John Temple, 3rd Viscount PalmerstonAugust 1839 – September 1841Secretary of State for War and the ColoniesLeader of the House of CommonsLord John RussellAugust 1839 – September 1841First Lord of the AdmiraltyGilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 2nd Earl of MintoAugust 1839 – September 1841Chancellor of the ExchequerFrancis Thornhill BaringAugust 1839 – September 1841President of the Board of TradeHenry LabouchereAugust 1839 – September 1841President of the Board of ControlSir John Cam HobhouseAugust 1839 – September 1841First Commissioner of Woods and ForestsJohn Ponsonby, Viscount DuncannonAugust 1839 – September 1841Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterHenry Richard Vassall-Fox, 3rd Baron HollandAugust 1839 – October 1840George Villiers, 4th Earl of ClarendonOctober 1840 – June 1841Sir George Grey, 2nd BaronetJune–September 1841Secretary at WarThomas Babington MacaulayAugust 1839 – September 1841Chief Secretary for IrelandGeorge Howard, Viscount MorpethAugust 1839 – September 1841
Notes Viscount Duncannon served concurrently as Lord Privy Seal and First Commissioner of Woods and Forests between August 1839 and January 1840. Lord Clarendon served concurrently as Lord Privy Seal and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster between October 1840 and June 1841.
List of ministers Members of the Cabinet are indicated by bold face.