Elizabeth Milbanke married Peniston Lamb in 1769 (he became Lord Melbourne when he was created a Viscount in 1770). Lady Melbourne was a very ambitious and capable woman who managed the affairs of her husband and family. She also entertained such notables as Charles James Fox, George Canning, Charles Grey, Prince George, and Richard Brinsley Sheridan. She had an affair with the Prince of Wales in 1780-1784. He was believed to have been the father of her fourth son, George Lamb, who was born in 1779.
It is doubtful that William Lamb, second son of Lady Elizabeth Melbourne, would have required the assistance of Lord Rathbourne to further his political career. After studying in Glasgow, he returned to England, where, over time, he became MP for Leominster, Chief Secretary for Ireland, Home Secretary, and Prime Minister, as well as Queen Victoria’s beloved friend. Lady Melbourne’s ambitions were, indeed, realized by her favorite son.
Though Richard Brinsley Sheridan had a brilliant political career, his career as part owner and manager of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, ended badly. Henry Holland, the architect chosen to complete the theater’s renovations in 1791, specified certain precautions in his plans that, if implemented, would help prevent, if not control, fire. These included four large reservoirs of water on the roof, ‘fire plates’ that protected the timber framing of the shell, staircases, and other vulnerable portions of the theatre, and an iron curtain that insulated the auditorium from the stage. On 24 February 1809, the theater was almost completely destroyed by fire. At the time of the fire, the vats of water were empty, and the iron curtain removed because it was rusty. But even in the face of such hardship, namely the loss of his theater, Sheridan comported himself with the style for which he had become known. He was in a tavern nearby, and when informed the building was on fire, took a chair and his drink outside. Upon being asked to explain his behavior, Sheridan replied, “May not a gentleman enjoy a glass by his own fireside?”
