Biography of Penistone Lamb 1st Viscount Melbourne 1745-1828

In or before 1743 [his father] Matthew Lamb 1st Baronet (age 37) and [his mother] Charlotte Coke were married. She brought Melbourne Hall, Derbyshire [Map] to the Lamb family.

On 29th January 1745 Penistone Lamb 1st Viscount Melbourne was born to Matthew Lamb 1st Baronet (age 40) and Charlotte Coke.

On 6th November 1768 [his father] Matthew Lamb 1st Baronet (age 63) died. His son Penistone (age 23) succeeded 2nd Baronet Lamb of Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire.

On 13th April 1769 Penistone Lamb 1st Viscount Melbourne (age 24) and Elizabeth Milbanke Viscountess Melbourne (age 17) were married.

On 3rd May 1770 [his son] Peniston Lamb was born to Penistone Lamb 1st Viscount Melbourne (age 25) and [his wife] Elizabeth Milbanke Viscountess Melbourne (age 18).

On 15th March 1779 [his son] William Lamb 2nd Viscount Melbourne was born to Penistone Lamb 1st Viscount Melbourne (age 34) and [his wife] Elizabeth Milbanke Viscountess Melbourne (age 27).

On 17th April 1782 [his son] Frederick Lamb 3rd Viscount Melbourne was born to Penistone Lamb 1st Viscount Melbourne (age 37) and [his wife] Elizabeth Milbanke Viscountess Melbourne (age 30). His paternity is considered a matter of conjecture given that his mother is believed to have had numerous lovers?

On 11th July 1784 [his son] George Lamb was born to Penistone Lamb 1st Viscount Melbourne (age 39) and [his wife] Elizabeth Milbanke Viscountess Melbourne (age 32). Some sources suggest his father may have been King George IV (age 21) who became his godfather.

On 21st April 1787 [his daughter] Emily Lamb Countess Cowper was born to Penistone Lamb 1st Viscount Melbourne (age 42) and [his wife] Elizabeth Milbanke Viscountess Melbourne (age 35).

On 8th November 1787 John Eliot 1st Baronet (age 51) died at Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire [Map], the seat of his friend Penistone Lamb 1st Viscount Melbourne (age 42). He was buried at St Etheldreda's Church, Hatfield [Map]. Baronet Eliot of Pebbles extinct.

Around 1790. Thomas Lawrence (age 20). Portrait of Penistone Lamb 1st Viscount Melbourne (age 44).

The Memoirs of Harriet Wilson Chapter 1. 1801. I was not depraved enough to determine immediately on a new choice, and yet I often thought about it. How indeed could I do otherwise, when the Honourable [his son] Frederick Lamb (age 18) was my constant visitor, and talked to me of nothing else? However, in justice to myself, I must declare that the idea of the possibility of deceiving Lord Craven while I was under his roof, never once entered into my head. Frederick was then very handsome, and certainly tried with all his soul and with all his strength, to convince me that constancy to Lord Craven was the greatest nonsense in the world. I firmly believe that Frederick Lamb sincerely loved me, and deeply regretted that he had no fortune to invite me to share with him.

Lord Melbourne (age 55), his father, was a good man. Not one of your stiff-laced, moralising fathers, who preach chastity and forbearance to their children. Quite the contrary, he congratulated his son on the lucky circumstance of his friend Craven having such a fine girl with him.

"No such thing," answered Frederick Lamb, "I am unsuccessful there. Harriette will have nothing at all to do with me."

"Nonsense!" rejoined Melbourne, in great surprise, "I never heard anything half so ridiculous in all my life. The girl must be mad! She looks mad. I thought so the other day, when I met her galloping about, with her feathers blowing, and her thick dark hair about her ears.

"I'll speak to Harriette for you," added his lordship, after a long pause, and then continued repeating to himself, in an undertone, "not have my son indeed! Six feet high! A fine, straight, handsome, noble young fellow! I wonder what she would have!"

In 1805 [his son] William Lamb 2nd Viscount Melbourne (age 25) and [his daughter-in-law] Caroline Ponsonby (age 19) were married. She the daughter of Frederick Ponsonby 3rd Earl Bessborough (age 46) and Henrietta Frances Spencer Countess Bessborough (age 43).

On 24th January 1805 [his son] Peniston Lamb (age 34) died of tuberculosis unmarried.

On 20th July 1805 [his son-in-law] Peter Nassau Clavering-Cowper 5th Earl Cowper (age 27) and [his daughter] Emily Lamb Countess Cowper (age 18) were married. She by marriage Countess Cowper. He the son of George Nassau Clavering-Cowper 3rd Earl Cowper and Hannah Anna Gore 3rd Countess Cowper.

On 17th May 1809 [his son] George Lamb (age 24) and [his daughter-in-law] Caroline St Jules were married. She the illegitmate daughter of William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire (age 61) and Elizabeth Christiana Hervey Duchess Devonshire (age 51).

In 1818 [his wife] Elizabeth Milbanke Viscountess Melbourne (age 66) died.

On 22nd July 1828 Penistone Lamb 1st Viscount Melbourne (age 83) died. His son [his son] William (age 49) succeeded 2nd Viscount Melbourne of Kilmore in County Cavan, 3rd Baronet Lamb of Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire.

Adeline Horsey Recollections. Lord and [his daughter] Lady Palmerston gave delightful parties, to which I was often invited. Lady Palmerston was a daughter of the first Viscount Melbourne, and she married the fifth Earl Cowper as her first husband. It was generally known that she had been Palmerston's mistress for many years, but she was a charming woman and proved herself an ideal helpmeet to him. Her manner was most genial, and she always appeared grateful to her husband's friends for their support. She possessed that peculiar art of making each guest feel that he or she was the one particular person she wished most to see; so the dinners and receptions of this perfect hostess were always very pleasant functions.