Name-Dropping and Adding
Posted in General on July 16th, 2008 by Eugene Finerman – 2 CommentsMelbourne, Australia was named for the British Prime Minister at the time: William Lamb. And Australia has been known for its sheep ever since.
However, since the British are status conscious, Lamb (1779-1848) is better known by his title: Lord Melbourne. (Actually, Viscount Melbourne would have been the name sewed in his underwear when he was at Cambridge.) His father was the intriguingly-named Peniston Lamb, Lord Melbourne. However William apparently inherited only his dad’s title because Mrs. William flagrantly cheated on her husband. She had a notorious affair with Lord Byron–exhausting and intimidating the omnisexual poet.
Lord Melbourne was Prime Minister from 1835 to 1841. And he finally found a woman who appreciated him. She was a shy, awkward teenager named Victoria who found herself in a complicated and very public job. The kindly Melbourne guided and encouraged a grateful Victoria. She would think him as a father-figure, and would remember him as one of her two favorite prime ministers (the other being the charming Disraeli).
I don’t know of any town named for Disraeli, although it would be appropriate for a suburban development on Chicago’s North Shore.