About William Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone was born on 29 December 1809 in Liverpool, the son of a prosperous merchant. He was educated at Eton and Oxford University and was elected to parliament in 1832, as a Tory. He made his mark early in his career holding junior offices Robert Peel's government (1834 – 1835) entering his Conservative cabinet in 1843.
He moved towards liberalism slowly and followed Peel in becoming a Liberal-Conservative. From 1846 to 1859 Gladstone was politically isolated, although held some cabinet posts, including Chancellor of the Exchequer, a position he would ultimately hold three times.
He joined the Liberals in 1859 and became their leader in 1867 the following year he was elected Prime Minister for the first time. Gladstone’s Liberal government created a national elementary programme and made major reforms in the justice system and the civil service.
Gladstone retired as Liberal leader in 1874 following a heavy defeat in the general election that led to his arch-rival Benjamin Disraeli becoming Conservative Prime Minister. However Gladstone remained a formidable government opponent, attacking the Conservatives over a number of foreign policy issues.
In 1880 he became prime minister for the second time, combining this with the office of chancellor for two years. His failure to rescue General Charles Gordon from Khartoum and slow reaction to other imperial issues cost him dear, and in 1885 the government's budget was defeated, prompting him to resign.
Gladstone's third (1886) and fourth (1892 - 1894) terms as Prime Minister were dominated by his crusade for home rule in Ireland. His first home rule bill in 1886 was not only rejected but also split the Liberal Party. In 1893 a second home rule bill was rejected by the House of Lords. By 1894 Gladstone found himself increasingly at odds with his cabinet and resigned.
William Ewart Gladstone died of cancer on 19 May 1898 and is buried in Westminster Abbey.
Links
Gladstone and his Library
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