By George! It’s One Man After Another

In the few short years after finally becoming king, and not merely regent, George IV had a devil of a time finding good people to fill the post of Prime Minister.

The death of Canning meant, of course, that his Majesty needed to find yet another Prime Minister. Such a bother, particularly since his Majesties priorities were not necessarily those of the government. This was something that all concerned were deeply, painfully aware of. As the Duke of Wellington had said of Canning “Canning and all his present men had got their hold upon the King by indulging him in all his expenses and whims.” There was more than a grain of truth to this, but it was hardly fair to Canning. Indulging the the King was part of the job description Being PM to George IV wasn’t something just anyone could do. And it is certainly telling that Wellington didn’t take the job until he felt he had to.

In fact, the King faced the same problem that he did after the death of Lord Liverpool. Many fellows who would be right for the job, precious few who actually wanted it. Wellington, whose name always cropped up when a PM hunt was afoot, didn’t want it. I would imagine that at that point in his professional life the Duke would have considered wearing a placard around his neck with the word “NO” painted on it.

Many others were asked, all said no. Well then, if no one wanted to stand up and be counted, then someone would have to be drafted. This is never a good idea with an important post. I’m sure many people at the time sincerely hoped the King would ask himself why no one in their right mind wanted to work with him. Needless to say, there is no evidence, at least that I have ever come across, that such a question ever entered his Majesties noggin.

Lord Frederick Goderich, Secretary of State for War and Leader of the House of Lords was finally prevailed upon to step up to the plate. If one Googles “British Prime Ministers who were not worth a bucket of cold cat pee” Goderich’s name will be near the top. He wasn’t a bad fellow, he simply wasn’t up for that much responsibility. He knew he wasn’t and told anyone who would listen that he wasn’t.

The fact is, when he said it, his listeners believed him The response was to pat him on the back, tell him “My sincerest condolences,old chap.” then run away before the political lighting that was sure to strike, struck. Goderich was described as an “attractive, good natured, business-like man, but easy going, hesitant and indecisive.” Also, his daughter had died a year earlier and he was in no way reconciled with that yet.

Probably the greatest task facing any Prime Minister was keeping the government together. And this meant keeping personal squabbles between cabinet ministers from interfering with public business. Alas, this was quite beyond Lord Goderich. For example, his Majesty wanted to bring in the former Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Wellesley. The Home Secretary, Lord Landsdown, threatened to resign if Wellesley was admitted without also bringing Lord Holland into the fold.

A minor thing, Seemingly. Goderich agreed to the proposal and wrote a draft of a letter to the King. He sent copies around to Landsdown and William Huskisson, head of the Colonial Office, for vetting. The draft was fine, but Goderich added something before sending the final letter to the King.

According to one historian, he “added that he could not conclude his statement without venturing to add how deeply he felt his own inadequacy to discharge the great duties to which his Majesty’s “far too favorable opinion called him,” His own natural infirmities have been aggravated by a protracted state of anxiety during the last two years.”

He sent this to the King of England. Oh dear. But he wasn’t done yet. Oh no, he went on to say…

“His health is enfeebled, and above all he fears that the health of one dependent upon him for support and strength is still in a state of such feebleness and uncertainty as to keep alive that anxiety to a degree not easily compatible with the due discharge of the duties which require the exertion of all the energies of the strongest mind.”

Oh. My. God.

His Majesty replied that he could “only regret that Lord Goderich’s domestic calamities unfitted him for the present situation.” The King had a chat with Huskisson about him. Huskisson said, in effect, “Sterling fellow, Goderich. Good family man. Too bad he is so pathetic and useless. Sack him.”

Things went from bad to worse with Cabinet in-fighting and Goderich was powerless to control any of it. On January 8th 1828, Lord Goderich went to Windsor to inform the King that his government was falling apart. “He broke down and wept when he explaining his dilemma to the King. The King offered him his pocket handkerchief and soon afterwards sent for the Duke of Wellington.”

The Duke went around to discuss the matter with the King. He found his Majesty where he had been for days; “In bed wearing a dirty silk jacket and a equally grubby turban night cap.” I’ll wager the Duke thought, and not for the first time, is this any way to run a government?

— Mr. Al