This is a list of the Leaders of the British Whig Party. It begins in 1830 as, in the words of J C Sainty, 'it would be misleading to convey the impression that there was in any precise sense a Leader of the Whig Party in the House of Lords before 1830'.J. C. Sainty (1964), Leaders and Whips in the House of Lords, 1783–1964 House of Lords Record Office p. 10 Also, Cook & Stevenson, British Historical Facts 1760–1830 have no section for party leaders in either House of Parliament. The section on 'Overall Leaders' gives details of those who were either the Prime Minister or a former Prime Minister who was still in Parliament and leading the Whig Party in the House in which he sat.
List of leaders of the Whig Party, 1830–1859 Name Portrait Constituency/Title Took office Left officePrime MinisterEarl Grey 2nd Earl Grey22 November 183016 July 1834 Earl Grey 1830–34Viscount Melbourne 2nd Viscount Melbourne16 July 183423 October 1842 Melbourne ceased to be leader when he suffered a stroke on this date. Viscount Melbourne 1834 The Duke of Wellington 1834 Sir Robert Peel 1834–35 Viscount Melbourne 1835–41 Sir Robert Peel 1841–46VACANT Leader in Lords -The Marquess of LansdowneLeader in Commons -Lord John Russell 23 October 1842 30 June 1846 Sir Robert Peel 1841–46Lord John RussellCity of London30 June 184630 January 1855 Lord John Russell 1846–52 Earl of Derby 1852 Earl of Aberdeen 1852–55Henry John Temple,3rd Viscount PalmerstonPalmerston was an Irish peer and a member of the House of Commons.Tiverton6 February 18556 June 1859 This date is given as being the date when the Whig Party came to an end and the Liberal Party began. Viscount Palmerston 1855–1858 Earl of Derby 1858–59
Leaders of the Whig Party in the House of Commons, 1830–1859 NameConstituencyTook officeLeft officeViscount AlthorpNorthamptonshire (1830–1832);South Northamptonshire (1832–1834)March 1830November 1834 Cook & Keith, British Historical Facts 1830–1900 p 92Lord John RussellDevonshire South (1834–1835);Stroud (1835–1841);City of London (1841–1855)November 1834February 1855 Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount PalmerstonTivertonFebruary 1855June 1859
Leaders of the Whig Party in the House of Lords, 1830–1859 NameTook officeLeft officeCharles Grey, 2nd Earl GreyNovember 1830July 1834 Viscount MelbourneJuly 1834October 1842 J. C. Sainty (1964), Leaders and Whips in the House of Lords, 1783–1964 House of Lords Record Office p 11The Marquess of LansdowneOctober 1842February 1855 Earl Granville February 18551859
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