Home > Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich

Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon ( November 1, 1782 - January 28, 1859), known as Frederick John Robinson (until 1827), Viscount Goderich (1827-1833), and Earl of Ripon (1833 onwards), was a British statesman and Prime MinisterIn the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister is the head of government, exercising many of the executive functions nominally vested in the Sovereign, who is head of state. According to custom, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (which he or she heads) are re (when he was known as Viscount Goderich).

After studying at HarrowHarrow School is a British public school, located in Harrow on the Hill, in London. It was founded in 1572 under a Royal Charter granted by Elizabeth I to John Lyon, a local yeoman, for the provision of education to local boys (Lyon was particular about k and Cambridge, Robinson entered parliament in 1806, and served in various minor positions in the government of Lord Liverpool, including Treasurer of the NavyA notable office in British government between the 16th and early 19th centuries, the Treasurer of the Navy was responsible for the financial maintenance of the Royal Navy. The office was a political appointment, and frequently was held by up and coming y, from which position he sponsored the Corn LawsThe Corn Laws in force between 1815 and 1846, were import tariffs ostensibly designed to "protect" British farmers and landowners, against competition from cheap foreign grain imports. It should be noted that British usage of the term corn included all gr of 1815Events January 3 Austria, Britain, and France form a secret defensive alliance treaty against Prussia and Russia. January 8 War of 1812: Battle of New Orleans February 3 The first commercial cheese factory is founded in Switzerland February 6 New Jersey g, before entering the Cabinet in 1818 as President of the Board of TradeThe President of the Board of Trade the title of a cabinet position in the United Kingdom government. It is the secondary title of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry . The idea of a Board of Trade was first translated into action by Oliver Crom. In 1823 Robinson succeeds Nicholas Vansittart as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

In 1827 he was raised to the peerage as Viscount Goderich, and served as Secretary of State for War and the Colonies and Leader of the House of Lords in George Canning's short-lived government. On Canning's death Goderich succeeded him as leader of a tenuous coalition of moderate Tories and Whigs, but it only lasted a few months and did not even meet Parliament. Goderich was succeeded by the Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.

In 1831 Goderich moved over to the Whigs and joined Lord Grey's cabinet, again as Colonial Secretary. In 1833 he became Earl of Ripon, and became Lord Privy Seal. But the next year he broke with the Whigs over Irish disestablishment.

Ripon later served in Peel's second administration as President of the Board of Trade (1841-1843) and then as President of the Board of Control (1843-1846).