The Victorians

By Claudius Mollokwu

The Victorians tells the tale of the successful Victorian period. Taking a thematic approach it details how the era heralded the birth of Britain as a modern nation state whose politics, religion, economics, science and culture became more modern and more professional.

The Victorian times stands as one of the most successful eras that Britain has ever witnessed.

The Victorians is an indispensable guide and narrative which details one of the most successful periods in Britain’s life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Oct 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9781728375939

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2022 Claudius Mollokwu. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 10/19/2022

ISBN: 978-1-7283-7592-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-7593-9 (e)

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CONTENTS

Preface

Chapter 1 Victoria- her life

Chapter 2 Politics

Chapter 3 Religion

Chapter 4 Modernity: Economics and Science

Chapter 5 Victorian Culture

Concluding thoughts

Bibliography

PREFACE

I decided to write a book about the Victorians and that esteemed period after reading works on the victorians by A.N. Wilson and Peter Ackroyd. Both works are impressive works on that era and period.

For me, I came across Victorian political, economic and social history during my A Level studies- I came into contact with Victorian figures such as Gladstone and Disraeli, and their successors such as the liberals- Asquith and Lloyd George. I also came into contact with several social reformers of the period including the likes of Bentham and Joseph Rowntree who did much to improve the conditions of the working classes and the poor in that era. My A level studies also provided with the opportunity to gain knowledge on the industrial revolution that swept Victorian England, Europe and the west.

Of course I had previously been aware of much of Victorian literature and culture during my early school days where I read some of Charles Dickens’ works such as ‘Oliver Twist’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’ as well as the Sherlock Holmes detective novels by the Scottish author Arthur Conan Doyle. I also through disparate readings of books and articles kept myself informed on the events in the Anglican church especially her Oxford Movement era when the Anglicana ecclesia returned and reaffirmed her catholic roots and catholic heritage.

This book provides me with the opportunity to once again revisit the Victorian period and to acquaint myself with the rubrics of that period.

The general thesis of the book is that the Victorian period was a particularly successful time and period for Britain in a lot of ways. Her politics was modern and exciting, the economy became more dynamic and more competitive, the Anglicana ecclesia became cool again, literature and culture reached new highs and heights evoking and even surpassing the Elizabethan era. Victoria had a good start- by 1815 since the Congress of Vienna, Europe now consisted of four great powers- Russia, Austria, Prussia and Great Britain- of which three were autocracies- even dictatorships, whilst the latter- Britain was barely a democracy (cf. Ackroyd, Dominion).

The Victorian era witnessed the birth of Britain as a fledging democracy- Britain had a constitutional monarch in Queen Victoria who shared powers with and governed with parliament. Britain became a modern nation state where she gained a self-identity and self-confidence that had previously eluded her. It was truly an era of great men and great women who drove history on to an ideal state that has yet to be surpassed or even equaled.

CHAPTER 1

VICTORIA- HER LIFE

V ictoria was the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, the fourth son of King George III, and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. At birth, Victoria was fifth in succession, following her brothers, George, the Prince Regent, Frederick, Duke of York; William, Duke of Clarence, and Victoria’s father, Edward, the Duke of Kent (cf. Longford) and was not expected to have any chance at assuming the throne of England. However, after the passing away of some of her brothers, she became heir presumptive once the Duke of York died in 1827, followed by George vi in 1830, the throne then passed to her next surviving brother, William, making Victoria next in line to the throne and consequently heir presumptive.

Victoria turned 18 on 24 May 1837, and a regency was avoided. Less than a month later, William iv passed away at the age of 71, and Victoria duly became Queen of England. In her diary she notes, ‘I was awoke at 6 o’clock by Mamma, who told me the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Conyngham were here and wished to see me. I got out of bed and went into my sitting-room (only in my dressing gown) and alone and saw them. Lord Conygham then acquainted me that my poor Uncle, the King, was no more, and had expired at 12 minutes past 2 this morning, and consequently that I am Queen’. Official documents her name as Alexandria Victoria but at her own request and behest ‘Alexandria’ was eliminated and she continued with her second name, ‘Victoria’.

At the time of Victoria’s accession to the throne, there was a Whig government in place led by Lord Melbourne. He became powerful and influential since Victoria required and relied on him for advice as how to govern England, her realm and country.

Victoria was popular- expectations were high for her- she did not disappoint. England modernised under her watch- modern day politics was born, the Anglican church became more roman and more catholic and consequently became stronger as a result of assimilation of catholic practices into her patrimony, the economy modernised giving birth to free market capitalism and economic liberalism.

Victoria married her first cousin Prince Albert on 10 February 1840, the Chapel Royal of St James Palace, London. Victoria was very much in love and was besotted with Albert- she doted on him and had a lot of affection for her new husband.

Albert became a confidante and advisor to the new queen, replacing Melbourne an earlier advisor in the queens’ affections.

Victoria first fell pregnant in 1840- in the first few months of her pregnancy, the 18 year old Edward Oxford attempted a coup d’etat while she was riding in a carriage with her husband, Albert. He was tried for treason, and in an extraordinary moment of kindness and compassion was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was sent away to live in Australia (cf. Hibbert).

Victoria and Albert had a further eight children over the duration of seventeen years.

After a dip and blip in popularity, Victoria once again regained the esteem and affection of the general populace.

On 29 May 1842, Victoria suffered and survived another coup d’etat.

Albert soon fell ill and was diagnosed with typhoid fever by William Jenner and died on 14 December 1861. Victoria was stricken with grief- she was in perpetual mourning for the lose of her lover, her friend and colleague. For the rest of her life she was in a state of mourning; she wore black to signify her lost happiness- she avoided public appearances and rarely visited London, the capital. She put on weight- mainly due to comfort eating as a way to deal with the loss of her husband. She reassumed her government duties such as checking and signing of statutes enacted by parliament, yet she remained secluded often performing her work and duties at castles and residences other than London-based constituencies- these included- Windsor Castle, Osborne House, and the private estate in Scotland that she and Albert had purchased and acquired in 1847, Balmoral Castle.

Throughout the 1860s Victorian began to rely on the help and advice of her servant, John Brown, a Scotsman. There was further tragedy- just 10 days after Victoria fell down some stairs at Windsor from which she never really recovered and was plagued with rheumatism, John Brown passed away.

New men entered in the Queen’s life- for example, her favourite prime minister was conservative leader, Benjamin Disraeli who often charmed Victoria: ‘Everyone likes flattery’ he said, ‘and when you come to royalty you should it down with a trowel’ (cf. Hibbert, Longford, St Aubyn, Strachey). Disraeli even bequeathed Victoria with the title ‘Empress of India’ enacted through the Disraeli-supported Royal Titles Act 1876 which he pushed through parliament which she dully and gladly accepted and assumed. The Victorian period is known as a significant period of Britain’s empire which experienced significant growth. Using the Anglican church Britain educated and civilised many of