William Lamb, 2d Viscount Melbourne, Lord Melbourne (1779–1848)

Politician. Called to the bar, 1804, but gave up the law for politics in 1805. MP for Leominster, 1806; for Portarlington, 1807–12; for Peterborough, 1816–19; for Hertfordshire, 1819–26; for Bletchingley, 1827–8. Irish secretary, 1827–8. On the death of his father in 1828, took his seat in the House of Lords. Home secretary, 1830–4. Prime minister, 1834; 1835–41.