Ripon, Frederick John Robinson (1782-1859)

British politician. A liberal Tory, he held several ministerial posts, including that of chancellor of the Exchequer 1823-27, and was a notably unsuccessful prime minister 1827-28. Created Earl of Ripon 1833.

Goderich was born in London, educated at Harrow and St John's College, Cambridge, and entered Parliament 1806. An associate of Viscount Castlereagh, he filled a variety of junior government offices from 1809, and was president of the Board of Trade 1818-23. In 1815, he proposed the introduction of the Corn Laws.

As chancellor of the Exchequer, he was sardonically nicknamed ‘Prosperity Robinson’ on account of his over-optimistic predictions for the economy. Treasury surpluses allowed him to repay debt and reduce taxes, but his reputation was damaged by the commercial crisis 1825. While his successes were popularly attributed to the influence of William Huskisson (his successor at the Board of Trade), his failures were widely held to be his own.

He was elevated to the peerage as Viscount Goderich 1827 and served as leader of the House of Lords and secretary for war and the colonies in the short administration of George Canning. When Canning died August 1827, Goderich succeeded him as prime minister at a time when Tory splits on personalities and policy (especially Catholic emancipation) would have tested a far stronger leader. His efforts to form a stable ministry, inept in themselves, were further undermined by the interference of King George IV. He resigned January 1828 without ever having faced Parliament as prime minister, since his brief term of office fell entirely within the parliamentary recess.

Excluded from office by Wellington, his successor, Goderich turned away from the die-hard Tories. He agreed to serve in the Whig government of Lord Grey, first as secretary for war and the colonies 1832-33, then as Lord Privy Seal 1833-34. Later he rejoined the Conservatives and was president of the Board of Trade 1841-43 and president of the India Board 1843-46. He supported the abolition of the Corn Laws by Robert Peel, and retired from politics 1847.

‘Goody Goderich’ was an amiable and upright man with respectable abilities as an administrator. Though his speeches tended to ramble, he was generally a safe choice for subordinate office. His indecisiveness, however, made him quite unsuitable for leadership.