Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich

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Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Viscount Goderich

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In office 31 August 1827 – 21 January 1828
Preceded by	George Canning
Succeeded by	The Duke of Wellington
In office January 31, 1823 – April 20, 1827
Preceded by	Nicholas Vansittart
Succeeded by	George Canning

Born	1 November 1782 London
Died	28 January 1859 Putney Heath, London
Political party	Tory

Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon PC (November 1, 1782 – January 28, 1859), Frederick John Robinson until 1827, The Viscount Goderich 1827–1833, and The Earl of Ripon 1833 onwards, was a British statesman and Prime Minister (when he was known as Lord Goderich).

He was born to Thomas Robinson, 2nd Baron Grantham and his wife, Mary. After studying at Harrow and St John's College, Cambridge, Robinson entered Parliament in 1806. He was made Privy Counsellor in 1812, and served in various minor positions in the government of Lord Liverpool, including joint-Paymaster of the Forces, from which position he sponsored the Corn Laws of 1815, before entering the Cabinet in 1818 as President of the Board of Trade. In 1823 Robinson succeeded Nicholas Vansittart as Chancellor of the Exchequer. While he held this position he was called "Prosperity Robinson" by the sarcastic journalist William Cobbett. William Cobbett also gave him the name "Goody Goderich" during an economic crisis in 1825.

In 1827 he was raised to the peerage as Viscount Goderich, of Nocton in the County of Lincoln, and served as Secretary of State for War and the Colonies and Leader of the House of Lords in George Canning's short-lived government. On Canning's death Goderich succeeded him as leader of a tenuous coalition of moderate Tories - also known as the Canningites and Whigs, but it only lasted a few months and did not even meet Parliament. Goderich had been an able minister but when it came to leading he was unsure and the government couldn't be run effectively as a number of Tory MPs stepped in to become the unofficial Prime Minister in an effort to help Goderich run the country. It is reported that when Goderich resigned to George IV he burst into tears and George IV had to lend Goderich a handkerchief as he didn't have one. Goderich was succeeded by the Duke of Wellington.

In 1830 Goderich moved over to the Whigs and joined Lord Grey's cabinet, again as Colonial Secretary. In 1833 he was created Earl of Ripon, and became Lord Privy Seal. But the next year he broke with the Whigs over Irish disestablishment.

He later served in Peel's second administration as President of the Board of Trade (1841–1843) and then as President of the Board of Control (1843–1846).

His son, George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon, was a noted Liberal statesman and Cabinet Minister.

Lord and Lady Ripon are buried in the memorial chapel at All Saints' Church, Nocton.

[edit] Lord Goderich's Government, September 1827 – January 1828

Political offices
Preceded by The Lord Charles Somerset	Paymaster of the Forces 1813–1817 (jointly with Charles Long)	Succeeded by Charles Long
Preceded by The Earl of Clancarty	President of the Board of Trade 1818–1823	Succeeded by William Huskisson
Preceded by George Rose	Treasurer of the Navy 1818–1823	Succeeded by William Huskisson
Preceded by Nicholas Vansittart	Chancellor of the Exchequer 1823–1827	Succeeded by George Canning
Preceded by The Earl Bathurst	Secretary of State for War and the Colonies 1827	Succeeded by William Huskisson
Preceded by The Earl of Liverpool	Leader of the House of Lords 1827–1828	Succeeded by The Duke of Wellington
Preceded by George Canning	Prime Minister 1827–1828	Succeeded by The Duke of Wellington
Preceded by Sir George Murray	Secretary of State for War and the Colonies 1830–1833	Succeeded by Lord Stanley
Preceded by The Lord Durham	Lord Privy Seal 1833–1834	Succeeded by The Earl of Carlisle
Preceded by Henry Labouchere	President of the Board of Trade 1841–1843	Succeeded by William Ewart Gladstone
Preceded by Lord FitzGerald and Vesey	President of the Board of Control 1843–1846	Succeeded by Sir John Cam Hobhouse
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by New Creation	Viscount Goderich 1827–1859	Succeeded by George Robinson
Preceded by New Creation	Earl of Ripon 1833–1859	Succeeded by George Robinson