The Creevey Papers
Lord Henry Petty to Thomas Creevey, 28 January 1806
“Cambridge, 28th Jany., 1806.
“We go on as well as you will see by the list. I have
a very handsome letter from Ld. Percy, who
tells me he has written to the Master, Tutors and all his friends at St.
John’s in my favor, but I fear they are all engaged to Palmerston. The latter, I am told, has 130
secure. Althorp does not give way, but I
threaten with a formal proposal to compare strength, which discomposes him a
good deal.
“Ever yrs.,
Thomas Creevey (1768-1838)
Whig politician aligned with Charles James Fox and Henry Brougham; he was MP for Thetford
(1802-06, 1807-18) Appleby (1820-26) and Downton (1831-32). He was convicted of libel in
1813.
Hugh Percy, third duke of Northumberland (1785-1847)
The son of the second duke (d. 1817), he was educated at Eton and St John's College,
Cambridge, and before succeeding to the title was a Tory MP for Buckingham (1806),
Westminster (1806), Launceston (1806-07), and Northumberland (1807-12). He was
lord-lieutenant of Ireland (1829-30).
John Charles Spencer, third earl Spencer (1782-1845)
English politician, son of the second earl (d. 1834); educated at Harrow and Trinity
College, Cambridge, he was Whig MP for Northamptonshire (1806-34) and chancellor of the
exchequer and leader of the lower house under Lord Grey (1830).
Henry John Temple, third viscount Palmerston (1784-1865)
After education at Harrow and Edinburgh University he was MP for Newport (1807-11) and
Cambridge University (1811-31), foreign minister (1830-41), and prime minister (1855-58,
1859-65).
