Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey

'''Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KG}}, {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|PC}}''' (13 March 1764&nbsp;– 17 July 1845) was a British [[Whiggism|Whig]] politician.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/history/past-prime-ministers/charles-grey-2nd-earl-grey |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=www.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> He served as [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] and [[Leader of the House of Lords]] from 1830 to 1834. As prime minister, Grey introduced the [[Representation of the People Act 1832|Representation of the People Act of 1832]], which expanded the electorate in the British Empire, and the [[Slavery Abolition Act 1833|Slavery Abolition Act of 1833]], which abolished slavery in the British Empire.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.britannica.com/summary/Charles-Grey-2nd-Earl-Grey | title=Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey summary &#124; Britannica }}</ref>

'''Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KG}}, {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|PC}}''' (13 March 1764&nbsp;– 17 July 1845) was a British [[Whiggism|Whig]] politician.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/history/past-prime-ministers/charles-grey-2nd-earl-grey |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=www.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> He served as [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] and [[Leader of the House of Lords]] from 1830 to 1834. As prime minister, Grey introduced the [[Representation of the People Act 1832|Representation of the People Act of 1832]], which expanded the electorate in the British Empire, and the [[Slavery Abolition Act 1833|Slavery Abolition Act of 1833]], which abolished slavery in the British Empire.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.britannica.com/summary/Charles-Grey-2nd-Earl-Grey | title=Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey summary &#124; Britannica }}</ref>

Born into an prominent [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]] family in the [[Northern England|north of England]], Grey was educated at [[Eton College]] before attending the [[University of Cambridge]] without obtaining a degree. He then travelled extensively and became a MP in 1786 for [[Northumberland]]. Grey was a long-time leader of the [[reform movement]]. He briefly served as [[Foreign Secretary (United Kingdom)|Foreign Secretary]] in the [[Ministry of All the Talents]]. Grey would serve in the opposition for almost two and a half decades.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey |url=https://www.museumofpm.org/prime-ministers/charles-grey-2nd-earl-grey/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Museum of the Prime Minister |language=en-US}}</ref> Following the passing of [[George IV]] and the ascension of [[William IV]] to the throne, the [[Wellington–Peel ministry|Tory government of Wellington]] was defeated in the [[1830 United Kingdom general election|1830 general election]] and led to the Whigs, under Grey's leadership, forming [[Whig government, 1830–1834|a new government]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kriegel |first=Abraham D. |year=2023 |title=Charles Grey |url=https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/charles-grey |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=www.ebsco.com |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Biography of Charles Grey |url=https://www.archontology.org/nations/uk/bpm/grey.php |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=www.archontology.org}}</ref>

Born into a prominent [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]] family in the [[Northern England|north of England]], Grey was educated at [[Eton College]] before attending the [[University of Cambridge]] without obtaining a degree. He then travelled extensively and became a MP in 1786 for [[Northumberland]]. Grey was a long-time leader of the [[reform movement]]. He briefly served as [[Foreign Secretary (United Kingdom)|Foreign Secretary]] in the [[Ministry of All the Talents]]. Grey would serve in the opposition for almost two and a half decades.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey |url=https://www.museumofpm.org/prime-ministers/charles-grey-2nd-earl-grey/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Museum of the Prime Minister |language=en-US}}</ref> Following the passing of [[George IV]] and the ascension of [[William IV]] to the throne, the [[Wellington–Peel ministry|Tory government of Wellington]] was defeated in the [[1830 United Kingdom general election|1830 general election]] and led to the Whigs, under Grey's leadership, forming [[Whig government, 1830–1834|a new government]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kriegel |first=Abraham D. |year=2023 |title=Charles Grey |url=https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/charles-grey |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=www.ebsco.com |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Biography of Charles Grey |url=https://www.archontology.org/nations/uk/bpm/grey.php |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=www.archontology.org}}</ref>

He presented his first petition to extend the [[suffrage|electoral franchise of voting]] as a member of parliament in 1792, and as prime minister he ultimately legislated the Representation of the People Act of 1832, which extended the franchise of voting in the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]], and which was accompanied by extensions of the electoral franchise in [[Scotland]] and [[Ireland]] with the [[Scottish Reform Act 1832|Scottish Reform Act of 1832]] and the [[Irish Reform Act 1832|Irish Reform Act of 1832]].<ref name="Strangic" /> The Representation of the People Act of 1832 granted the right to vote to a broader segment of the male population by standardising property qualifications, extending the franchise to small landowners, tenant farmers, shopkeepers, and all householders who paid a yearly rental of £10 or more.

He presented his first petition to extend the [[suffrage|electoral franchise of voting]] as a member of parliament in 1792, and as prime minister he ultimately legislated the Representation of the People Act of 1832, which extended the franchise of voting in the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]], and which was accompanied by extensions of the electoral franchise in [[Scotland]] and [[Ireland]] with the [[Scottish Reform Act 1832|Scottish Reform Act of 1832]] and the [[Irish Reform Act 1832|Irish Reform Act of 1832]].<ref name="Strangic" /> The Representation of the People Act of 1832 granted the right to vote to a broader segment of the male population by standardising property qualifications, extending the franchise to small landowners, tenant farmers, shopkeepers, and all householders who paid a yearly rental of £10 or more.