About

My name is Greg Roberts and I returned to academia relatively late in life, attaining a Masters Degree from Queen Mary, University of London in 2009. Afterwards, I attended University of Westminster under the supervision of Professor Pippa Catterall and Dr Helen Glew, obtaining a PhD (May 2020) on completing my thesis

Long-Wellesley & Publicity: The Role of Celebrity in the Public Sphere (1788-1832)

I have used Long-Wellesley as a case study, exploring of the framework of the newly emergent public sphere for the purpose of challenging conventional belief that public opinion emerged from the (Habermasian) political sphere, when it was in fact more culturally derived, finding its inspiration in publicity. Long-Wellesley’s scandalous celebrity was a key factor in changing the moral climate, enabling late-Georgian bawdiness to make way for Victorian ideals of respectability.

Through my research I have inadvertently became something of an expert on the Wellesley family, presenting papers at the Wellington Congress (2010, 2013 and 2015), the Georgian Group and various other events. I am currently revising my thesis for general publication, adding an important chapter left out for reasons of space, concerning Long-Wellesley’s relationship with his uncle Arthur, Duke of Wellington. This new material will uncover the Duke’s deep involvement in the events which unfolded at Wanstead, resulting in Wicked Willam Long-Wellesley’s destruction of its magnificent mansion and plunder of his wife’s fortune.

‘Wicked William’ once rather crytically declared: ‘Though I believe I have done enough wrong, I believe I am the virtuous member of the family’. He was calling into question the private character of Wellington:- Britain’s foremost military commander and statesman, whose role in this scandal remains shrouded in secrecy.

I work as Finance Director of EJ Roberts Roofing Limited, first founded by my father in 1963, but under my ownership since 1990. This job places considerable restraints upon my study time – especially recently when the coronavirus emergency compelled me to work long-hours to protect the business and its employees. During this time I have kept my history hand in via posting on Twitter, and I remain confident that my revised book will be ready for publication by the Spring of 2021

I am very interested in the history of London, how it has been represented in print and image media, and the physical and social changes it has experienced since Georgian times. I hope to find time for publishing new articles based upon the copious research notes I’ve already compiled for the intention sharing on this blog.

If you want to learn more about my forthcoming book (or may be interested in publishing it) I would be delighted to hear from you.