Richard W. Davis, a self-described political historian, devoted his career to understanding, in his own words, 'the play of power and influence and how they are mobilized to get things done'. The central question he asked and those repeated by the contributors in this volume to honour him are straightforward: how did individuals envision the public good in modern Britain and how, through religious and moral beliefs, coupled with wisdom and political savvy, could they improve the public good through the ever-changing 19th century political institutions? The essays in this volume range from studies of local electoral politics and parliamentary reform campaign to national political party organization, high politics and the role religion and empire played in the creation of national policy. They also examine the influence of individuals on the political process through their professional work in historical and philosophical writing, journalism and missionary work at home and abroad. They bring new original research in the area of modern British political history together in Parliamentary History.