Martin Spychal
@martinspychal.bsky.social
Senior Research Fellow, History of Parliament, House of Commons, 1832-1945 project. History, politics, prints, cats - maybe music & cricket. New book 'Mapping the State' OUT NOW. bit.ly/3RQmUeK
Reposted by Martin Spychal
Members of the Victorian Commons team will be on the #HistParl stand from 11-11:45 and 2-2:45 for all your 19th century history needs, and other brilliant colleagues will also be on hand throughout the day!
Come and say hello to the #HistParl team at History Day next week! We're excited to talk about our research and catch up with new and old friends working in the sector.
Find out more via @ihr.bsky.social #HistDay25
Find out more via @ihr.bsky.social #HistDay25
1 week to go until History Day - don't forget to sign up! Read about why History Day is such a fantastic event in this blog by Claire Langhamer: buff.ly/ySfBuWR
#HistDay25 @senatehouselib.bsky.social
#HistDay25 @senatehouselib.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Members of the Victorian Commons team will be on the #HistParl stand from 11-11:45 and 2-2:45 for all your 19th century history needs, and other brilliant colleagues will also be on hand throughout the day!
Reposted by Martin Spychal
Ready and waiting to meet people at #HistDay25.
November 4, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Ready and waiting to meet people at #HistDay25.
Reposted by Martin Spychal
I enjoyed chairing the brilliant @satisfactory20.bsky.social for her seminar yesterday, which featured the fascinating history of this 'suffragette chain' and lots more. Thanks for a great paper Mari!
My new blogpost for @histparl.bsky.social on ‘The Speakers and the Suffragettes’ is now up! Do read historyofparliament.com/2025/10/21/t...
The Speakers and the Suffragettes - The History of Parliament
At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 28 October, Dr Mari Takayanagi will be discussing ‘The Speakers and the Suffragettes’.
historyofparliament.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:31 AM
I enjoyed chairing the brilliant @satisfactory20.bsky.social for her seminar yesterday, which featured the fascinating history of this 'suffragette chain' and lots more. Thanks for a great paper Mari!
Reposted by Martin Spychal
There is still time to book for what promises to be a great talk by @satisfactory20.bsky.social - join us at 5:30 tomorrow (Tues) in person or online.
Looking forward to the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar on 28 October. Dr Mari Takayanagi @satisfactory20.bsky.social will be sharing new research, inc. a recently discovered ‘suffragette chain’. FREE in-person in London & online. More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/21/t...
The Speakers and the Suffragettes - The History of Parliament
At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 28 October, Dr Mari Takayanagi will be discussing ‘The Speakers and the Suffragettes’.
historyofparliament.com
October 27, 2025 at 6:59 PM
There is still time to book for what promises to be a great talk by @satisfactory20.bsky.social - join us at 5:30 tomorrow (Tues) in person or online.
Reposted by Martin Spychal
Looking forward to the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar on 28 October. Dr Mari Takayanagi @satisfactory20.bsky.social will be sharing new research, inc. a recently discovered ‘suffragette chain’. FREE in-person in London & online. More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/21/t...
The Speakers and the Suffragettes - The History of Parliament
At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 28 October, Dr Mari Takayanagi will be discussing ‘The Speakers and the Suffragettes’.
historyofparliament.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Looking forward to the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar on 28 October. Dr Mari Takayanagi @satisfactory20.bsky.social will be sharing new research, inc. a recently discovered ‘suffragette chain’. FREE in-person in London & online. More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/21/t...
Looking forward to the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar on 28 October. Dr Mari Takayanagi @satisfactory20.bsky.social will be sharing new research, inc. a recently discovered ‘suffragette chain’. FREE in-person in London & online. More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/21/t...
The Speakers and the Suffragettes - The History of Parliament
At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 28 October, Dr Mari Takayanagi will be discussing ‘The Speakers and the Suffragettes’.
historyofparliament.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Looking forward to the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar on 28 October. Dr Mari Takayanagi @satisfactory20.bsky.social will be sharing new research, inc. a recently discovered ‘suffragette chain’. FREE in-person in London & online. More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/21/t...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
Today we visited The National Archives for a workshop organised by @joecozens.bsky.social and our own @martinspychal.bsky.social on Peter McLagan, Scotland's first Black MP. We looked at original documents relating to McLagan's life & had some great discussions about future directions for research.
October 16, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Today we visited The National Archives for a workshop organised by @joecozens.bsky.social and our own @martinspychal.bsky.social on Peter McLagan, Scotland's first Black MP. We looked at original documents relating to McLagan's life & had some great discussions about future directions for research.
Reposted by Martin Spychal
A constituency wasn't the only thing the two shared. When Lewis died in 1838, Disraeli courted his widow. After dismissing many reservations, she married him. Mary Anne Disraeli would later reportedly say, 'Dizzy married me for my money, but if he had the chance again, he would marry me for love.’
Born #OnThisDay 1780 the Conservative MP Wyndham Lewis. He was Disraeli’s running mate in the Maidstone constituency in 1837 and financed their election campaign. Find out more about his political career in our article: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/m...
MP of the month: Wyndham Lewis
Wyndham Lewis (1780-1838) is probably best remembered today for bankrolling the future prime minister Benjamin Disraeli’s election to Parliament. Lewis’s wife Mary, an aspiring society hostess with…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM
A constituency wasn't the only thing the two shared. When Lewis died in 1838, Disraeli courted his widow. After dismissing many reservations, she married him. Mary Anne Disraeli would later reportedly say, 'Dizzy married me for my money, but if he had the chance again, he would marry me for love.’
Reposted by Martin Spychal
A reminder of our September article on the Victorian Commons site - we looked at the facilities provided for reporters (among them a young Charles Dickens) in the 19th century House of Commons: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/09/08/t...
‘The status of the Press is changed indeed’: the reporters’ gallery in the nineteenth-century House of Commons
Continuing our series on parliamentary buildings, Dr Kathryn Rix looks at the accommodation provided for the newspaper journalists who reported on the proceedings of the nineteenth-century House of…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
September 22, 2025 at 12:09 PM
A reminder of our September article on the Victorian Commons site - we looked at the facilities provided for reporters (among them a young Charles Dickens) in the 19th century House of Commons: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/09/08/t...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
William Tooke, MP for Truro, 1832-7, died #OnThisDay 1863. An active backbench MP, one of his major campaigns was to secure degree-awarding status for the University of London. Find out more here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2019/08/30/m...
MP of the Month: William Tooke and the royal charters of the University of London
Following our blogs on the creation of the University of London constituency in 1868 and its first MP, Robert Lowe, August’s MP of the Month is William Tooke. As MP for Truro from 1832, Tooke worke…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
September 20, 2025 at 1:21 PM
William Tooke, MP for Truro, 1832-7, died #OnThisDay 1863. An active backbench MP, one of his major campaigns was to secure degree-awarding status for the University of London. Find out more here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2019/08/30/m...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
RIP Frank O'Gorman. He was a lovely man and a brilliant historian, and I was very fortunate that he was my PhD supervisor. I will miss him.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...
Frank O’Gorman obituary
Other lives: Manchester University historian who wrote books on 18th- and 19th-century society
www.theguardian.com
August 22, 2025 at 6:44 AM
RIP Frank O'Gorman. He was a lovely man and a brilliant historian, and I was very fortunate that he was my PhD supervisor. I will miss him.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
This month marks the birth of Lord Ronald Gower, MP for Sutherland 1867-74 & a prominent figure in British LGBTQ+ history. To mark this we are reposting a series of articles by @martinspychal.bsky.social exploring Gower’s parliamentary career. historyofparliament.com/2025/08/11/l... 🧵 [1/4]
Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916): the life of a queer MP at the time of the Second Reform Act - The History of Parliament
Dr Martin Spychal introduces his series of articles on Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916), who was elected as MP for Sutherland in 1867. This is the first of five
historyofparliament.com
August 11, 2025 at 11:24 AM
This month marks the birth of Lord Ronald Gower, MP for Sutherland 1867-74 & a prominent figure in British LGBTQ+ history. To mark this we are reposting a series of articles by @martinspychal.bsky.social exploring Gower’s parliamentary career. historyofparliament.com/2025/08/11/l... 🧵 [1/4]
Reposted by Martin Spychal
#OnThisDay 1831 Lord Melbourne asked Thomas Drummond to establish a boundary commission to undertake the process of redrawing constituency boundaries as part of the major electoral reforms of 1832. Our research fellow Dr Martin Spychal explains more: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2021/06/28/s...
Surveying the UK’s parliamentary boroughs: map-making and the 1831-2 boundary commissions
To coincide with the publication of the initial proposals of the 2023 English boundary commission and the Society for One-Place Studies recent focus on maps, our research fellow, Dr Martin Spychal,…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
August 8, 2025 at 8:38 AM
#OnThisDay 1831 Lord Melbourne asked Thomas Drummond to establish a boundary commission to undertake the process of redrawing constituency boundaries as part of the major electoral reforms of 1832. Our research fellow Dr Martin Spychal explains more: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2021/06/28/s...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
🧵(5) While an authoritative and influential parliamentarian, much of O'Connell's strength was as a 'popular' politician among the masses, presenting himself as a 'people's champion' and embracing an early form of celebrity culture, as Dr Simon Morgan explores: buff.ly/YgsMFr4
From ‘People’s Champions’ to ‘Tribunes of the People’: popular politicians in Parliament, c. 1810 to 1867 - The History of Parliament
To find out more, Simon’s full-length paper ‘From ‘People’s Champions’ to ‘Tribunes of the People’: popular politicians in Parliament, c. 1810 to 1867’ is
thehistoryofparliament.wordpress.com
August 6, 2025 at 7:30 AM
🧵(5) While an authoritative and influential parliamentarian, much of O'Connell's strength was as a 'popular' politician among the masses, presenting himself as a 'people's champion' and embracing an early form of celebrity culture, as Dr Simon Morgan explores: buff.ly/YgsMFr4
Reposted by Martin Spychal
Our latest Victorian Commons article looks at what is thought to have been England's last political duel, fought between Canterbury's MPs in the run-up to the 1852 general election. victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/07/10/a...
A ‘new Canterbury Tale’: George Smythe, Frederick Romilly and England’s ‘last political duel’
Drawing on her research into Canterbury for the House of Commons, 1832-1868 project, our research fellow Dr Naomi Lloyd-Jones looks at the 1852 pre-election duel between the city’s MPs, Frederick R…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
July 10, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Our latest Victorian Commons article looks at what is thought to have been England's last political duel, fought between Canterbury's MPs in the run-up to the 1852 general election. victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/07/10/a...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
O in our #1832AtoZ is also for Ordnance Survey. Thomas Drummond had worked for the Ordnance Survey before using his map-making & scientific skills to oversee the drawing of new constituency boundaries in 1831-2. @martinspychal.bsky.social explores his work: historyofparliament.com/2015/02/24/t...
Parliaments, Politics and People seminar: Martin Spychal, 'One of the best men of business we had ever met': Thomas Drummond, the boundary commission and the 1832 Reform Act - The History of Parliamen...
At our last 'Parliaments, Politics and People' seminar, Martin Spychal, holder of an AHRC collaborative doctoral award with the History of Parliament and
historyofparliament.com
July 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM
O in our #1832AtoZ is also for Ordnance Survey. Thomas Drummond had worked for the Ordnance Survey before using his map-making & scientific skills to oversee the drawing of new constituency boundaries in 1831-2. @martinspychal.bsky.social explores his work: historyofparliament.com/2015/02/24/t...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
Today marks the anniversary of the birth of Harriet Grote in 1792.
As @martinspychal.bsky.social has explored in his series, now available on the #HistParl site, she was able to establish herself as one of Westminster’s leading radical politicians. (1/8)🧵
As @martinspychal.bsky.social has explored in his series, now available on the #HistParl site, she was able to establish herself as one of Westminster’s leading radical politicians. (1/8)🧵
July 1, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Today marks the anniversary of the birth of Harriet Grote in 1792.
As @martinspychal.bsky.social has explored in his series, now available on the #HistParl site, she was able to establish herself as one of Westminster’s leading radical politicians. (1/8)🧵
As @martinspychal.bsky.social has explored in his series, now available on the #HistParl site, she was able to establish herself as one of Westminster’s leading radical politicians. (1/8)🧵
Reposted by Martin Spychal
@joecozens.bsky.social, one of our seminar convenors, has just had an article published by @histparl.bsky.social discussing his research into John Lewis, a Black sailor who was arrested during the 1828 Weymouth by-election.
historyofparliament.com/2025/06/24/j...
historyofparliament.com/2025/06/24/j...
John Lewis: A Black Sailor at the 1828 Weymouth By-Election - The History of Parliament
In this guest article Dr Joe Cozens discusses his research into John Lewis, a Black sailor who was arrested during the 1828 Weymouth by-election. Dr Cozens is
historyofparliament.com
June 24, 2025 at 8:36 AM
@joecozens.bsky.social, one of our seminar convenors, has just had an article published by @histparl.bsky.social discussing his research into John Lewis, a Black sailor who was arrested during the 1828 Weymouth by-election.
historyofparliament.com/2025/06/24/j...
historyofparliament.com/2025/06/24/j...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
New article today for the #HistParl site.
@joecozens.bsky.social explores the records of John Lewis, a Black sailor arrested at the 1828 Weymouth by-election, and how his story serves as an example of Black political participation in the early 19th century:
historyofparliament.com/2025/06/24/j...
@joecozens.bsky.social explores the records of John Lewis, a Black sailor arrested at the 1828 Weymouth by-election, and how his story serves as an example of Black political participation in the early 19th century:
historyofparliament.com/2025/06/24/j...
John Lewis: A Black Sailor at the 1828 Weymouth By-Election - The History of Parliament
In this guest article Dr Joe Cozens discusses his research into John Lewis, a Black sailor who was arrested during the 1828 Weymouth by-election. Dr Cozens is
historyofparliament.com
June 24, 2025 at 9:37 AM
New article today for the #HistParl site.
@joecozens.bsky.social explores the records of John Lewis, a Black sailor arrested at the 1828 Weymouth by-election, and how his story serves as an example of Black political participation in the early 19th century:
historyofparliament.com/2025/06/24/j...
@joecozens.bsky.social explores the records of John Lewis, a Black sailor arrested at the 1828 Weymouth by-election, and how his story serves as an example of Black political participation in the early 19th century:
historyofparliament.com/2025/06/24/j...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
Studying, researching or teaching a history topic and not sure where to start? Try a search using the Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH)
Using BBIH online: a help pack for students and lecturers
For the academic year, we've a help pack offering guides to BBIH in undergraduate and graduate teaching and research. With embeddable content for VLEs.
bit.ly
June 17, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Studying, researching or teaching a history topic and not sure where to start? Try a search using the Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH)
Reposted by Martin Spychal
Excited to hear from Prof. Julian Hoppit on 17 June at the final IHR PPP seminar of term. He’ll be sharing new research into John Rickman’s career in Parliament during the early #19C. Join online for free! More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/10/j... @victoriancommons.bsky.social
Beyond the Census: John Rickman and Parliament - The History of Parliament
Professor Julian Hoppit, Honorary Professor of British History at UCL, will be discussing John Rickman and his career in Parliament.
historyofparliament.com
June 16, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Excited to hear from Prof. Julian Hoppit on 17 June at the final IHR PPP seminar of term. He’ll be sharing new research into John Rickman’s career in Parliament during the early #19C. Join online for free! More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/10/j... @victoriancommons.bsky.social
Excited to hear from Prof. Julian Hoppit on 17 June at the final IHR PPP seminar of term. He’ll be sharing new research into John Rickman’s career in Parliament during the early #19C. Join online for free! More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/10/j... @victoriancommons.bsky.social
Beyond the Census: John Rickman and Parliament - The History of Parliament
Professor Julian Hoppit, Honorary Professor of British History at UCL, will be discussing John Rickman and his career in Parliament.
historyofparliament.com
June 16, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Excited to hear from Prof. Julian Hoppit on 17 June at the final IHR PPP seminar of term. He’ll be sharing new research into John Rickman’s career in Parliament during the early #19C. Join online for free! More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/10/j... @victoriancommons.bsky.social
Reposted by Martin Spychal
In the first of an important new series, drawing on sources ranging from photographs to parliamentary reports, @martinspychal.bsky.social looks at the life and career of Scotland's first Black MP, Peter McLagan, MP for Linlithgowshire, 1865-93. victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/06/12/p...
Peter McLagan (1823-1900): Scotland’s first Black MP
This is the first article in a new series for the Victorian Commons on Peter McLagan (1823-1900), by Dr Martin Spychal, Senior Research Fellow on our House of Commons 1832-1868 project. McLagan was…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
June 12, 2025 at 8:03 AM
In the first of an important new series, drawing on sources ranging from photographs to parliamentary reports, @martinspychal.bsky.social looks at the life and career of Scotland's first Black MP, Peter McLagan, MP for Linlithgowshire, 1865-93. victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/06/12/p...
Reposted by Martin Spychal
Looking forward to hearing next week about Rickman, who spent 12 years as the Speaker's Secretary and 26 years as a Clerk in the House of Commons. Come and join us online on Tuesday 17th June.
On 17 June Professor Julian Hoppit will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar, where he will be discussing John Rickman and his career in Parliament.
Find out more about the paper and how to attend the seminar below: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/10/j...
Find out more about the paper and how to attend the seminar below: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/10/j...
Beyond the Census: John Rickman and Parliament - The History of Parliament
Professor Julian Hoppit, Honorary Professor of British History at UCL, will be discussing John Rickman and his career in Parliament.
historyofparliament.com
June 10, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Looking forward to hearing next week about Rickman, who spent 12 years as the Speaker's Secretary and 26 years as a Clerk in the House of Commons. Come and join us online on Tuesday 17th June.
Reposted by Martin Spychal
On 17 June Professor Julian Hoppit will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar, where he will be discussing John Rickman and his career in Parliament.
Find out more about the paper and how to attend the seminar below: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/10/j...
Find out more about the paper and how to attend the seminar below: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/10/j...
Beyond the Census: John Rickman and Parliament - The History of Parliament
Professor Julian Hoppit, Honorary Professor of British History at UCL, will be discussing John Rickman and his career in Parliament.
historyofparliament.com
June 10, 2025 at 8:48 AM
On 17 June Professor Julian Hoppit will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar, where he will be discussing John Rickman and his career in Parliament.
Find out more about the paper and how to attend the seminar below: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/10/j...
Find out more about the paper and how to attend the seminar below: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/10/j...