Melbourne as "Melburnians". The city was founded on 30 August 1835, in what was the British colony of New South Wales, by free settlers from the colony of Van Diemen’s Land. It was incorporated as a Crown settlement in 1837 and named in honour of the British Prime Minister, William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne. It was declared a city by Queen Victoria in 1847, after which it became the capital of the new colony of Victoria in 1851. In the wake of the 1850s Victorian gold rush, the city entered the "Marvellous Melbourne" boom period, transforming into one of the most
Peniston Lamb (1770–1805) Peniston Lamb (1770–1805) The Honourable Peniston Lamb (3 May 1770 – 24 January 1805) was a British politician. Lamb was the eldest son of Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne, and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Ralph Milbanke, 5th Baronet. Prime Minister William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, Frederick Lamb, 3rd Viscount Melbourne and the Hon. George Lamb were his younger brothers. Due to their mother's numerous love affairs, only Peniston is likely to have been Lord Melbourne's son. Lamb was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Newport in 1793, and held the seat until 1796. He was elected as MP for Hertfordshire