Member of Parliament
During Sibthorp's three decades in Parliament, he became renowned, along with Sir Robert Inglis, as one of its most reactionary members. He stoutly opposed Catholic Emancipation, the Reform Act of 1832, the repeal of the Corn Laws, and the 1851 Great Exhibition. He was convinced that any changes from the Britain of his youth (in the late 18th century) were signs of degeneracy, that Britain was about to go bankrupt, and that the new railways were a passing fad which would soon give way to a return to stagecoaches.
He was opposed to all foreign influences, and offended Queen Victoria with his public suspicions of Prince Albert, the prince consort. His political views, his bluntness in expressing them, and his eccentricities made him the target of both witticisms and cartoons in Punch. The electors of Lincoln however, thought very highly of him. To them he was a man of honesty and independence and they returned him to Parliament on eight occasions.
Sibthorp died at his home in London, and was succeeded as MP by his son, Gervaise.
Read more about this topic: Colonel Sibthorp
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