On This Day

February 18, 1854

Birth of Herbert Gladstone, 1st Viscount Gladstone, Liberal MP for Leeds 1880-85 and Leeds West 1885-1910

Youngest son of W.E. Gladstone, Herbert Gladstone is chiefly remembered for two things neither of which were beneficial to the Liberal Party. As private secretary to his father, Gladstone was responsible for the Hawarden Kite which leaked the news of his father’s support for Irish Home Rule. In 1899 Gladstone became Liberal Chief Whip. Fearing the Liberals inability to win a parliamentary majority he negotiated a pact with the Labour Representation Committee allowing the LRC a free run in a number of constituencies. He served as a not particularly successful Home Secretary under Campbell-Bannerman and Asquith and became the first Governor General of the Union of South Africa.