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The Head Master turning out the Incorrigibles

This image was sent to me by Bill Webber; my thanks to him.

For a larger image, click here

The cartoon, The Head Master turning out the Incorrigibles, was drawn by Henry Heath (HH) and was published by S Gans, Southampton Street London, in May 1831. The topic of the cartoon is the prorogation of Parliament which took place on 22 April. William IV stands holding an umbrella labelled 'Reform', and is saying "Get you gone and never let me see your faces again, until you are Reformed". Lord Brougham the Lord Chancellor, (in the wig) and Earl Grey, the Prime Minister, stand behind him, representing the Whig government.

On the right is the Duke of Wellington (in the red army jacket), who is saying to Sir Robert Peel, "Oh Bobby, Bobby, what shall we do now?". Peel is wearing the blue high-collared jacket. Michael Sadler says, "I'm afraid that I shall never be admitted to the skool [sic] again". General Sir Robert Thomas Wilson says "It is a shocking bad job", Sir Charles Wetherell says, "Who would have thought I should have been Hunted out already. There are two other characters at the front right; one is Sir Edward Burtenshaw Sugden.

The Tories under the Duke of Wellington had resisted attempts to reform parliament and in November 1830, following an ill-conceived speech in the House of Lords, Wellington's government had fallen. The new Whig government brought in a Reform Bill which was defeated by the Tories so Earl Grey asked the king to prorogue parliament and call a general election. This cartoon is a comment on these events.