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How did Wellington respond when the Reform Bill of 1832 faced opposition in the House of Lords?

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Arthur Wellesley, 1st duke of Wellington Arthur Wellesley, 1st duke of Wellington, oil on canvas by Sir Thomas Lawrence.

When the Reform Bill of 1832 faced opposition in the House of Lords, the Duke of Wellington initially led the resistance against the legislation, attempting to thwart the efforts of Prime Minister Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey to pass it.1

Following a political crisis in May 1832, during which King William IV refused to create new peers to overcome the Lords' opposition and Grey resigned, the King asked Wellington to form a new government. Wellington failed to recruit an alternative administration, leading to a period of tumultuous deadlock.12

Recognizing the severity of the situation and the potential for civil unrest, Wellington ultimately chose to retreat for the sake of the country. He persuaded his followers to join him in abstaining from Parliament, allowing the Reform Bill to pass in the House of Lords and become law in June 1832.12