William Ewart Gladstone 1809 - 1898

Famous Victorian reforming British Prime Minister who served four terms as and was MP for Greenwich.

William Ewart Gladstone, the fourth son of Sir John Gladstone, was born in Liverpool on 29th December, 1809. Gladstone was a MP and a successful Liverpool merchant. William was educated at Eton and Christ College, Oxford. At the Oxford Union Debating Society Gladstone developed a reputation as a fine orator. At university Gladstone was a Tory and denounced Whig proposals for parliamentary reform.

Famous as Disraeli's rival and for their spirited debates, Gladstone had a long and distinguished career in public service which began in 1832 when he entered Parliament as a Tory (Conservative). Serving until 1895, except for a one year absence in 1846, he served in numerous governments beginning with Peel's ministry in junior capacities.

Gladstone's first major office was that of President of the Board of Trade (Minister of Industry and Commerce) in Peel's second ministry (1841-46). He was Chancellor of the Exchequer (Minister of Finance) in Aberdeen's government, cutting duties and attempting to abolish income tax. His efforts failed due to the need for funds to carry on the Crimean War. He also served in Palmerston's second ministry (1859-65) again effecting tax reductions. When Palmerston died, Gladstone stayed on as Chancellor of the Exchequer under Russell through 1866. In 1867, he followed Russell as leader of the Liberal Party.

Gladstone became prime minister in 1868 and was an active legislator and reformer. He was responsible for the dis-establishment of the Church of Ireland (1869), an unsuccessful attempt to bring peace to Ireland.  He also carried the Irish Land Act (1870) which provided for compensation for improvements to tenant farmers who were evicted by landowners. Gladstone reforming legislation included Cardwell's Army reform (1868) made peacetime flogging illegal. In 1870, he was responsible for passage of Forester's Education Act, making elementary education available to Welsh and English children between the ages of five and 13.  He passed the Ballot Act of 1872 which instituted secret ballots for local and general elections. In 1873 he passed laws restructuring the High Courts.

Gladstone was replaced by Disraeli in 1874, ending his first ministry.  As Opposition leader, Gladstone was an active and vocal critic of Disraeli's policies. His re-election in 1879 for his second ministry was a personal triumph, but his land and agricultural reforms were eclipsed by wartime events. In 1881, the British suffered a stunning defeat in the first Boer War.

Gladstone's third ministry, a short one lasting on six months (February to July 1886) was one that was dominated by Irish affairs. Gladstone converted to support home rule for Ireland. When the bill is defeated, he resigns.

Gladstone's last term as Prime Minister saw the passage of an Irish home rule bill (1892) in the Commons, which he first championed in his 1886 ministry, but the bill never made it through the Lords. Gladstone resigned as a result, leaving office in 1894. He died four years later from cancer.

Time Line

First Ministry

1869 - The Suez Canal opens. Imprisonment for debt is abolished.

1871 - Bank holidays introduced. Stanley meets Livingston in Africa at Ujiji

1874 - Parliament meets. Disraeli becomes prime minister.

Second Ministry

1880 - Parliament meets. Gladstone becomes prime minister.

1881 - Disraeli dies.

1882 -Passage of The Married Women's Property Act grants British women the right to own their own property.

1883 - "Treasure Island" by R.L. Stevenson is published.

Third Ministry

1886 - Parliament meets. Gladstone becomes prime minister. Home rule is defeated. Gladstone resigns. Salisbury becomes prime minister

Fourth Ministry

1892 - Parliament meets. Gladstone becomes prime minister.

1893 -  The second home rule bill is defeated. Gladstone resigns. Rosebery becomes prime minister.

Chancellor of the Exchequer

As Chancellor of the Exchequer (Minister of Finance) he introduced the red Budget box to contain the budget speech to the Houses of Parliament.

William Gladstone managed an enormous 4 hours 45 minutes for his budget speech in 1853.  Gladstone not only holds the record for the longest Budget speech, he was also the longest serving Chancellor;  serving for 12 years and 4 months.

Quotes

"Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead, and I will measure with mathematical exactness, the tender mercies of its people, their loyalty to high ideals, and their regard for the laws of the land." William Ewart Gladstone