The Croker Papers
The Correspondence and Diaries of the Late Right Honourable John Wilson Croker, LL.D., F.R.S., Secretary to the Admiralty from 1809 to 1830

Published in 1884, Tory politician and writer J. W. Croker's papers are an important source of information on nineteenth-century political and literary history.

John Wilson Croker (Author), Louis J. Jennings (Edited by)

9781108044592, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 23 February 2012

438 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2.5 cm, 0.55 kg

John Wilson Croker (1780–1857), politician and writer, was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and studied for the bar before moving to London. He was appointed as Deputy Chief Secretary for Ireland when Sir Arthur Wellesley took command of the Army in Portugal, and subsequently became Secretary to the Admiralty, an important role in wartime. He was noted for his efficiency and honesty, and held the post until 1830, despite changes of government. He was a prolific letter-writer, on both professional and personal matters, and almost all his correspondents were men of importance in their field. This three-volume edition of his papers was published in 1884. Volume 2 covers the period 1829–42. Catholic emancipation and parliamentary reform dominated the political agenda in the earlier years, while the years 1841–2 were notable for the cause célèbre regarding the Marquess of Hertford's will, which, perhaps unfairly, damaged Croker's reputation.

14. 1829. The last days of Catholic disabilities
15. 1830. The new agitation for parliamentary reform
16. 1831. Mr. Croker's opinions on the reform question
17. 1832. Last stages of the reform discussion
18. 1833–4. The first reformed parliament
19. 1835. The dissolution and the elections
20. 1836–8. Mr. Croker's literary work in 1836
21. 1839–40. Difficulties of Lord Melbourne's government
22. 1841–2. Fall of Lord Melbourne's administration.

Subject Areas: British & Irish history [HBJD1]