Died #OTD 1867, William Wilshere. In 1838, Wilshere was re-elected MP for Great Yarmouth. However, Wilshere had been nominated and elected without his knowledge or consent. Find out more about his career below: https://t.co/kD0fHBD2F9

In our #1832AtoZ R is also for our Resources page. This has links to many free to access resources for 19th century British history, from Hansard debates to maps. We’ve checked all the links today, but if anything is missing or broken, let us know!

Ahead of Remembrance Day this Sunday, and with 2025 marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War, Dr Kathryn Rix has looked at the 23 MPs commemorated in the Commons chamber who died during the Second World War:

Died #OnThisDay 1884 Henry Fawcett, the first completely blind MP. He sat as a Liberal for Brighton 1865-74, & Hackney 1874-84. For more on him & the wife, the leading suffragist, Millicent Garrett Fawcett, see our earlier post:

Having had a narrow escape at the Battle of the Alma, Edward Pakenham, Conservative MP for Co Antrim, died #OnThisDay 1854 after sustaining a fatal injury at the Battle of Inkerman. He was one of several Irish MPs to serve in the Crimean War:

John Walter (b. 1818) followed in his father’s footsteps as proprietor of The Times and as an MP. He represented Nottingham, 1847-59, and Berkshire, 1859-65 & 1868-85. He died #OnThisDay 1894. Read more on his dual role here:

Born #OnThisDay 1801, John Lloyd Davies rose from humble origins, aided by his wife, to become MP for Cardigan Boroughs in 1855. Find out more about his life and parliamentary career in our blog:

Died #OnThisDay 1854 Benjamin Rotch, MP for Knaresborough 1832-5. He was also a lawyer, inventor, teetotaller & cab proprietor, & challenged the lord major of London to a duel. More on this eclectic career here:

New to the #HistParl site, @KathrynRix looks at the provision made for women to witness debates in the temporary chamber used by the Commons between 1835 and 1852: https://t.co/e2bxFe6Jxz

Just one new parliamentary borough was created between the 1832 and 1867 Reform Acts: Birkenhead, enfranchised in 1861. Fittingly, its first MP was the major local shipbuilder John Laird, elected in December 1861, who represented it until his death #OnThisDay in 1874.

Tonight Dr Mari Takayanagi will be speaking at the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People Seminar where she will be discussing her paper 'The Speakers and the Suffragettes'. You can either attend online or in-person, details of which can be found below: https://t.co/h8M2HhoXG1

Next in our #1832AtoZ is R. For 19th century political parties Registration was a key part of their activities, making sure their supporters were on the electoral register and trying to remove opponents. Find out more about these efforts here:

Come and join us later today - still time to book for this seminar in person or online at 5:30.

Charles George Lyttelton, born #OnThisDay 1842, became Liberal MP for East Worcestershire at a by-election in June 1868. He was one of the most accomplished cricketers to sit in the Commons, as our post on him explored:

For #EssexDay Philip Salmon's post on the unusual 'freedom-by-marriage' franchise includes material on the Essex borough of Maldon, where wives were interviewed before their husbands could exercise their right to the vote:

Q in our #1832AtoZ is also for Quakers. As a Quaker, Joseph Pease refused to take an oath as a new MP in 1833. Find out here how he secured the right to affirm instead, becoming the first Quaker to take his seat in the Commons:

Born #OnThisDay 1792 William Collins, Radical MP for Warwick, 1837-52. He was among the minority of 46 MPs who voted in support of the 1839 Chartist petition. There’s more on the Victorian Commons & Chartism here:

Died #OnThisDay 1869 Edward Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, three times Conservative Prime Minister (1852, 1858-9, 1866-8). This post from our editor Philip Salmon gives an overview of his political career:

Rainald Knightley’s wife, Louisa, was a leading figure in the Primrose League, a parish councillor & supporter of women’s suffrage. Her diaries (for 1856-1884 via https://t.co/7yn7eZEHvP & for 1885-1913 ed P. Gordon) provide fascinating insights into women’s political activity.

Rainald Knightley, Conservative MP for Northamptonshire South for 4 decades (1852-92), was born #OnThisDay 1819. There’s more on him and his father (also an MP) here: