Lord William John "Dolly" Melbourne, 2nd Earl of Melbourne, KG, PC (1779 – 1848) was a British statesman who served as Prime Minister three times during the nineteenth century. He is known as the Victorian host and hostess.
Lord Melbourne was born in 1779 at Hayes, Middlesex. He was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar, Middle Temple, in 1800 and then entered politics as member for Chelsea from 1806 to 1807
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In the House of Lords he took a leading part in opposing the Catholic Emancipation Bill. In 1832 he became Home Secretary under Earl Grey's administration and continued under Lord John Russell's leadership until 1834. He became Prime Minister and held office until December 1841, when he resigned on account of his advanced age.
His last years were passed abroad and he died at Boulogne-sur-Mer on 18 September 1848.