William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne and writing to her, and she responded with enthusiasm and grew in wisdom. On 7 May 1839, Melbourne announced his intention to resign. This led to the Bedchamber Crisis. Prospective prime minister Robert Peel requested that Victoria dismiss some of the wives and daughters of Whig MPs who made up her personal entourage, arguing that the monarch should avoid any hint of favouritism to a party out of power. The Queen refused to comply—supported by Melbourne, although he was unaware that Peel had not requested the resignation of all the Queen's ladies as she had led him to believe—and hence,
William Fortescue, 2nd Viscount Clermont William Fortescue, 2nd Viscount Clermont William Charles Fortescue, 2nd Viscount Clermont (12 October 1764 – 24 June 1829), was an Irish politician. Fortescue was the son of James Fortescue by his wife Mary Henrietta Hunter, a daughter of Thomas Orby Hunter, of Crowland Abbey, Lincolnshire. His uncle was William Fortescue, 1st Earl of Clermont, 1st Viscount Clermont. He served in the British Army, reaching the rank of lieutenant. In 1796 he was returned to the Irish House of Commons for County Louth (succeeding his brother Thomas James Fortescue), a seat he held until 1800, when the Irish Parliament was abolished