Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne

Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne (29 January 1745-22 July 1828), known as Sir Peniston Lamb, 2nd Baronet, from 1768 to 1770, was a British politician and the father of Prime Minister William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne.

Lamb was the son of Sir Matthew Lamb, 1st Baronet, and his wife Charlotte (née Coke), and succeeded in the baronetcy on his father's death in 1768. The same year he was returned to Parliament for Ludgershall, a seat he held until 1784, and then represented Malmesbury from 1784 to 1790 and Newport, Isle of Wight from 1790 to 1793. In 1770 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Lord Melbourne, Baron of Kilmore, in the County of Cavan, and in 1781 he was created Viscount Melbourne, of Kilmore in the County of Cavan, also in the Peerage of Ireland. In 1815 he was even further honoured when he was made Baron Melbourne, of Melbourne in the County of Derby, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, which gave him an automatic seat in the House of Lords.

Lord Melbourne married Elizabeth Milbanke (1751-1818), daughter of Sir Ralph Milbanke, 5th Baronet, in 1769. The couple had at least four children, though only the first born son can be diffinitively attributed to Lord Melborne due to his wife's many affairs. Son George is reputed to be the son of George IV; with William and Emily allegedly fathered by Lord Egremont.

* Peniston (born c. 1773)
* William (15 March 1779-24 November 1848)
* Emily (born c. 1780)
* George (b. July 1784)

Melbourne died in July 1828, aged 83. He was succeeded in his titles by his son William.

References

*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). "Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage" (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
* [http://www.angeltowns.com/town/peerage/ Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page]
* [http://www.thepeerage.com/ www.thepeerage.com]