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Debbie Kilroy

@debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social
41 followers 54 following 58 posts

Award-winning political historian and author of the forthcoming 'Members Behaving Badly'. All things political history - without the Politics!

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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Do please use the bookshop link below - Amazon has sold out, again!
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History Rage Podcast @historyrage.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
🚨THIS WEEK TO PATREON AND APPLE SUBS🚨 Think justice always prevailed in the past? ⚖️ @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social ( @gethistory.bsky.social ) reveals how privilege and power let politicians walk free. 🎙️🔥 🎧 Listen 👉 www.patreon.com/post... #HistoryPodcast #Politics #HistoryRage ⚖️
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Elliott & Thompson @eandtbooks.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Ever wondered what makes a great political rogue? Discover the intriguing behaviors of historical politicians in the latest episode of History With Jackson with guest @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m... Debbie's book #MembersBehavingBadly is out now!
podcasts.apple.com
Members Behaving Badly with Debbie Kilroy
Podcast Episode · History with Jackson · 22 February · 33m
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History Rage Podcast @historyrage.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
🚨 THIS WEEK TO PATREON AND APPLE 🚨Bad leadership isn’t new 😡 On #HistoryRage @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social ( @gethistory.bsky.social ) shares a jaw-dropping story of authority so toxic people risked everything to get away. 🎧 Listen 👉 www.patreon.com/post... #History #Podcast 🔥
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Brilliant fun! Thanks for having me!
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Guy's Hospital first admitted patients on this day, 6 January, in 1725. It was founded by Thomas Guy, former MP for Tamworth, who was one of the few politicians to put money made during the South Sea Bubble to good use. 1/2
Guy's Hospital, by Oxyman, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13724024
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 14/12/2025
George Hudson, the 'Railway King', died on this day, 14 December 1871. He had risen from relatively humble beginnings to being fabulously rich through involvement in the rapidly growing railway industry. By 1844, he owned a whopping 20 per cent of Britain's railway lines. 1/3
George Hudson ('The man wot knows how to get up the steam')

published by Thomas McLean
lithograph heightened with white, published 10 November 1845
NPG D36365

© National Portrait Gallery, London
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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
'Materials of State' will be airing this week on Radio 4, made in association with the History of Parliament. The series examines the artefacts and emblems that have shaped, and continue to shape, the British constitution. You can catch the first episode today at 1:45pm: buff.ly/1I5JVcE
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - Materials of State, The Union Jack
David Cannadine explores the history of the Union Jack.
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Did anyone else look at this for about five minutes thinking, 'That doesn't look very much like Tom Holland' before realising it's the actor not the historian?
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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Our #1832AtoZ continues with S for Scotland. There were 51 Scottish constituencies in the 1832-67 period, returning 53 MPs. This post explores some of the features of the Scottish electoral system: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/t...
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
The Scottish dimension (2)
Following on from the first blog in this series in January, this post focuses on the distinctive nature of the Scottish representative system before and after the 1832 Scottish Reform Act. Both the…
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Elliott & Thompson @eandtbooks.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Introducing… #MembersBehavingBadly: A History of Britain in 52 Parliamentary Rogues! From 1603 to 1945, @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social tells the outrageous stories of 52 MPs who made history for all the wrong reasons... ‘A riot of malfeasance and misbehaviour’ Roger Moorehouse bit.ly/49SM4Cu
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
I might have dropped the ball somewhat while moving house! This is Henry Du Pré Labouchère, aka Labby, an MP who actually was a clown. 1/2
By Carlo Pellegrini - Published in Vanity Fair, 7 November 1874, as "Men of the Day" Number 90.Downloaded from http://www.antique-prints-maps.co.uk/acatalog/ref1.php?imagefile=../largeimages/VFModestAssurance.JPG, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12765488
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
On this day, 4 November, 1839, around 10,000 people marched to Newport in Wales to demand the release of local Chartist leaders. 1/
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Dashwood was once described as ‘the worst chancellor of the Exchequer that ever appeared’, ‘the most confused, most incapable, and most ignorant of all, who ever accepted the seals of that high office’ - not least because he taxed cider. But he did have some redeeming features.
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
It feels about time to repost this thread, for no particular reason... 👀
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
On this day, 28 October 1689, Henry Wharton, sufferer of road rage and killer of Nell Gwyn’s horse, died of a ‘raging sickness, occasioned by the unwholesomeness of the place, wet weather and ill food’ two months after landing in Ireland to fight against the forces of the deposed James II.
Henry Wharton by John Riley
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
For hell had opened upon us from front and either flank, and it kept open upon us during the minutes – they seemed hours – which passed while we traversed the mile and a quarter at the end of which was the enemy. 1/3
Richard Caton Woodville Jr, 1894
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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Great to see Helen Wilson, who was co-supervised by Amanda Goodrich and @histparl.bsky.social's own Robin Eagles (@georgianlords.bsky.social) featured on this term card. Helen's will be a joint session with the Parliaments, Politics and People seminar (for other PPP seminars, see the link).
history.ac.uk
Parliaments, Politics and People
This seminar provides a national forum for new research on all aspects of parliamentary and electoral politics, from the people and processes to the records and physical settings.
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
On this day - 20 October - 1739, a Scottish slave ship landed at Donaghadee on the coast of Ireland to reprovision. But it was no ordinary slaver, and its inmates had not opted for transportation over the noose. 1/4
By The original uploader was Mattrhysmic at English Wikipedia. - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Leoboudv using CommonsHelper., CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8522595
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
On this day – 17 October – 1708 was the court martial of the visually elusive John, Master of Sinclair. Elected as an MP in May 1708, he never had the chance to take up his seat in parliament. 1/4
Battle of Sheriffmuir by John Wootton
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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
We reflected on Professor Rush's career and the development of his groundbreaking Database on the #HistParl website. Read about it here: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/15/m...
historyofparliament.com
Michael Rush and the Database - The History of Parliament
We were sad to hear recently of the death of Professor Michael Rush of the University of Exeter. Michael was a pioneering and indefatigable scholar of
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
James Thomas Brudenell, Lord Cardigan, was born on this day - 16 October - 1797. He is best known for 'leading' the Charge of the Light Brigade, but that wasn't his only fault.
James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan by Sir Francis Grant oil on canvas, circa 1841 NPG 5369  © National Portrait Gallery, London
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Karen Graubart @kbgraubart.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Moving quickly to a world where students use AI to complete work, profs use AI to grade it, no one learns anything and we will live in a world of mediocrity and incompetence where only the billionaires benefit.
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
MP Richard Barwell was born on this day - 8 October - 1741. It would be a life of blessings for him - although not for his Indian victims. 1/4
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
A constituency wasn't the only thing the two shared. When Lewis died in 1838, Disraeli courted his widow. After dismissing many reservations, she married him. Mary Anne Disraeli would later reportedly say, 'Dizzy married me for my money, but if he had the chance again, he would marry me for love.’
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Get History @gethistory.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
What connects Glastonbury Chalice Well with Winston Churchill? Kit Kowol explains all in his fascinating new article.
gethistory.co.uk
The Silent Minute
What do you do when your army has retreated, your ally has capitulated, and you face invasion? You pray.
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Alex von Tunzelmann @alexvont.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
I agree with every word Zelda Williams says. And this at the end from OpenAI makes me want to go full Ned Ludd. Creators can’t have a blanket opt-out on copyright infringement of their work and have to fill out a form appealing to OpenAI’s mercy every time? Fuck off into the sun
OpenAI told the Guardian that content owners can flag copyright infringement using a “copyright disputes form” but that individual artists or studios cannot have a blanket opt-out. Varun Shetty, OpenAI’s head of media partnerships, said: “We’ll work with rights holders to block characters from Sora at their request and respond to takedown requests.”
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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
A surprising number of the MPs in our 1832-68 project came from humble backgrounds. John Rolt, born #OnThisDay 1804, began his working life as a draper’s apprentice. Find out more about his rise to the position of attorney-general here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2017/10/23/f...
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
From draper’s apprentice to attorney-general: Sir John Rolt and the 1867 Reform Act
With this year marking the 150th anniversary of the passing of the Second Reform Act, our MP of the Month is one of the lesser known architects of this measure, the attorney-general, Sir John Rolt,…
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
On this day, 4 October 1936, former MP Oswald Mosley attempted to lead 3,000 members of his British Union of Fascists on a march through London's East End. 1/3
Image of the Daily Mirror report, 5 October 1936, © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD through the British Newspaper Archive..
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Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
#FreeEvent on Tues 7 Oct, 2pm: "New Beginnings: Rebuilding after the Great Fire" talk by Jill Finch, City Guide. New rules and regulations and new ideas meant a renewed City emerged like a phoenix from the ashes. Please book via: (online & in-person event). newbeginningstalk7oct.eventbrite.co.uk
newbeginningstalk7oct.eventbrite.co.uk
New Beginnings: Rebuilding after the Great Fire
Work to rebuild the City of London began almost immediately after the Great Fire of 1666.
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Conor Brockbank @conorbrockbank.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
A great blog post by fellow @qubhistory.bsky.social PhD @jamesorchin.bsky.social exploring the Third Party of the 1790s. Insightful and well-researched. Well worth a read!
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English Civil War @englishcivilwar.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
👀👀👀
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The Georgian Lords @georgianlords.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
You can read more about Rich in our @histparl.bsky.social 1690-1715 volumes. He collaborated with James II but after the 1688 Revolution worked hard to re-establish his good Whig credentials... www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-...
historyofparliamentonline.org
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
This lovely Elizabethan house is Roos Hall near Beccles in Suffolk. As well as allegedly being one of the most haunted houses in Britain, it was also owned by the MP Sir Robert Rich, who died on this day - 1 October - in 1699.
Picture of Roos Hall by Rjm at Sleepers, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roos_Hall#/media/File:Roos_Hall.jpg
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
On this day, 29 September 1617, Frances Coke married Sir John Villiers, brother of James I's favourite, George. But it was not a cause for celebration.
Frances Coke portraitAshdown House © National Trust
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
I think I'll just stick to the green eggs!
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Justin Colson @justincolson.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
@ihr.bsky.social and @ies-sas.bsky.social are partnering with @thelondonarchives.bsky.social to run a new series of public lectures, featuring the chance to see the original records first hand. First lecture by @patrickwallis.bsky.social on "Apprenticeship and the Rise of London", Weds 15th October!
ies.sas.ac.uk
SAS and The London Archives: Apprenticeship and the Rise of London, 1500-1800
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
We might be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway today, but there's one MP we certainly shouldn't be honouring. By 1844 George Hudson, the 'Railway King', controlled 20% of the country's lines, making him fabulously wealthy.
George Hudson, the 'Railway King', portrait from NPG D 9521.
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Debbie Kilroy @debbiekilroyauthor.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Welcome to my new author account! Here you will find fun and fascinating titbits of political history, and jaw-dropping stories of political rogues. Let's start with an MP I sadly had to cut out of the book. Meet Sir Robert Mansell, one of my absolute favourites bad boys.
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