L. G. Mitchell is Fellow and Praelector in Modern History at University College, Oxford. The leading scholar of the Whigs, his many books include the highly praised Charles James Fox (OUP 1992).

"An excellent biography....Based on extensive research, Mitchell's book tells both the political and personal stories extremely well."--CHOICE

"[A] thoroughly researched and gracefully written book....[I]t is well worth reading for its fascinating analysis of the connections between Melbourne's public and private selves."--Victorian Studies

"Leslie Mitchell's Lord Melbourne 1779-1848 is a splendid biography by a perceptive historian whose subject is deftly drawn as a complex and vulnerable character....The interpretation presented here is convincing, the command of sources apparent, the writing engaging, and the treatment of political issues sure....Mitchell's life of Melbourne is an exemplary achievement in the craft of historical biography."--Albion