Politics is a pursuit which I detest, which interferes with all my private comfort and which I only sigh for an opportunity of abandoning decidedly and for ever.
- Himself.

Additional Information on
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (1764-1845)
Whig Prime Minister 1830-1834

Charles Grey became the member of Parliament for Northumberland in 1786, joining the Whig party. After attaching himself to Charles James Fox, Grey attempted to introduce motions for parliamentary reform in 1793 and 1797, but both attempts were unsuccessful. The two also strove for peace with France and fought the Bill of Union with Ireland, but after 1800 they drifted apart.

In 1806, Grey assumed office in Grenville's coalition government as Foreign Secretary, and then succeeded to leadership of the House of Commons. However, shortly after this Grenville's government was evicted by the King.

In 1807 Grey succeeded to his father's earldom, and in January 1808 took his seat in the House of Lords. He became a rather unenthusiastic leader of the opposition (1812-1830), preferring his happy home life in the country to politics in London. Grey is quoted to have seen political life as 'a pursuit which I detest, which interferes with all my private comfort and which I only sigh for an opportunity of abandoning decidedly and for ever'.

However, after the instability of successive Tory governments following Liverpool's death and the fall of Wellington's government in 1830, the country saw a return to Whig power once more. As a result, Grey became the new Prime Minister. Change seemed imminent and within Parliament there grew a demand for reform, in order for it to be more representative of the nation as a whole. The first Reform Bill was introduced in 1831 and the second in 1832. Grey then set about the passage of other acts of reform. In 1833 the first Factory Act was issued (establishing stricter and safer working conditions), as was the Poor Law Amendment Act and the abolition of slavery. Having fulfilled his ambition for political reform, Grey resigned in 1834, and died in 1845.

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