Scandal, Sympathy, and Slander: The Press Portrayal of Caroline Norton

Press engraving of John Flook disturbing Caroline Norton and Lord Melbourne, with Caroline's dress exposing her thigh - as described in the episode

In 1836, Victorian Britain witnessed a scandal that reverberated through Parliament, the press, and polite society alike. At the centre of the storm stood Caroline Norton—poet, pamphleteer, and social reformer—thrust into infamy for her alleged affair with then-Prime Minister Lord Melbourne. Her husband, George Norton, brought a "criminal conversation" suit against Melbourne, accusing him of adultery and seeking £10,000 in damages. Though the court found Melbourne not guilty, as we explore in this week's episode, the real trial played out in the public eye.

The Anatomy of a Scandal

"Crim. con." trials, as they were known, were salacious spectacles. Ostensibly about legal redress, they were often about reputation and revenge. George Norton’s lawsuit was unusual because of the high profile of the accused, and because Caroline herself was well-known. An author and political hostess, she moved in Whig circles and had personal access to powerful men, including Melbourne.

Contemporary illustration, playing on Lord Melbourne's surname - Lamb

The Press as Judge and Jury

The Victorian press seized upon the story with a mixture of moral outrage and lurid fascination. Headlines implied guilt, inviting the public to scrutinize every word and gesture. The Times, then the leading paper of record, took a relatively measured tone but still emphasized the “impropriety” of such a close friendship between a married woman and a widowed Prime Minister.

Other papers were less restrained. The Morning Post and John Bull, both with conservative leanings, skewered Caroline for her independence and outspokenness. Her intelligence, charm, and wit—virtues in literary salons—were reframed as evidence of moral laxity. She was painted alternately as a calculating social climber and a fallen woman. That George Norton had a history of abuse and jealousy was either downplayed or dismissed.

A Woman Without Rights

Ironically, the press' obsession with Caroline Norton’s virtue underscored a deeper injustice: she had no legal existence independent of her husband. Though George had abandoned her, he retained control over her earnings and even barred her from seeing their children. Her fall from grace wasn’t just reputational—it was material.

Following the trial, Caroline turned this personal catastrophe into a lifelong crusade. Through her writings and lobbying, she influenced major legal reforms, including the Custody of Infants Act (1839) and the Married Women’s Property Act (1870). But in 1836, the press offered her no such redemption arc—only spectacle.

Satirical illustration, depicting George Norton, Caroline Norton, and Lord Melbourne

Conclusion: Scandal vs. Substance

The media coverage of Caroline Norton during the Melbourne affair reflected the Victorian double standard: women were held to impossible moral standards while being denied the rights and agency to defend themselves. Though the jury acquitted Melbourne, the public largely judged Caroline guilty. Yet from the wreckage of this scandal, she forged a legacy that would outlast the headlines.

To find out more about Caroline Norton, her life and campaigns, listen to this week's episode of Kickass Women of History, where Amy is joined by public historian Dr Katherine Hobbs.