The Fourth Duke of Newcastle, the Ultra‐Tories and the Opposition to Canning's Administration

AbstractThis article explores the Ultra‐Tory opposition to the formation of George Canning's administration in March–April 1827 and subsequent events leading up to the beginning of the duke of Wellington's ministry in January 1828. It concentrates, in particular, upon the role of Henry, fourth duke of Newcastle (1785–1851) who emerged as the leading Ultra‐Tory in the period. The article re‐examines the events of the year with two considerations in mind: first, the effect of Canning's appointment on the position of the king and the ‘open’ status of Catholic Emancipation (given Canning's sympathies for a settlement of that question); secondly, the potential for the formation of a united ‘Protestant’ party in parliament out of the materials provided by Canning's opponents. It concludes that the events of the year were pivotal in transforming the Ultra‐Tories from grumbling, but acquiescent, backwoodsmen into a political group and in demonstrating, well before the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts and Catholic Emancipation, that they were unlikely to find a receptive following from either George IV, Wellington or Peel.