Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey



Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey KG PC was one of the main architects of the 1832 Reform Act, despite stiff opposition from The Duke of Wellington. In addition to straightening out a rather corrupt and unfair system that could in part be blamed for the American Revolution, he also presided over the total abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1833 and gave his name to the aromatic blend of tea before retiring in 1834.

The fact that the man who very probably saved Britain from violent revolution and then basically sicced the entire might of the British Empire on the slave trade is now best remembered for the tea says a lot about Britain.