F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich

Who was F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich?

Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon PC, styled The Honourable F. J. Robinson until 1827 and known as The Viscount Goderich GOHD-rich between 1827 and 1833, the name by which he is best known to history, was a British statesman. He was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom between August 1827 and January 1828.

A member of the rural landowning aristocracy, Robinson entered politics through family connections. In the House of Commons he rose through junior ministerial ranks, achieving cabinet office in 1818 as President of the Board of Trade. In 1823 he was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, a post he held for four years. In 1827 he was raised to the peerage, and in the House of Lords was Leader of the House and Secretary of State for War and the Colonies.

When the Prime Minister, George Canning, died in 1827 Goderich succeeded him, but was unable to hold together Canning's fragile coalition of moderate Tories and Whigs. He resigned after 144 days in office.

After leaving the premiership Goderich served in the cabinets of two of his successors, Earl Grey and Sir Robert Peel.