Time Period: 1859-1886
Marquess of Hartington (Duke of Devonshire), 1833-1908
The birth of the modern Liberal Party in 1859 brought together three disparate elements, Whigs, Peelites and Radicals. Hartington, as he was known for most of his political life, epitomised the Whig contribution to government – rich, aristocratic but driven by noblesse oblige to take public office. When he broke with Gladstone in the 1880s it…
Lord John Russell (Earl Russell), 1792-1878
The leading Liberal politician from the mid-1830s to the mid-1850s, Russell was twice Prime Minister; he was associated particularly with the issues of parliamentary, educational and Irish reform. He was a Foxite Whig who updated Fox’s attitudes to make them more relevant to the second quarter of the nineteenth century, and added to them a…
I blame Sir Edward Grey
Review of John Charmley, Splendid Isolation? Britain and the Balance of Power 1874-1914 (Hodder & Stoughton, 1999).
Radical failure
Review of Miles Taylor, The Decline of British Radicalism 1847-1860 (Oxford University Press, 1995).
‘There are things stronger than parliamentary majorities
Review of Alan O’Day, Irish Home Rule 1867-1921 (Manchester University Press, 1998).
The Hawarden Kite
The techniques of spin-doctoring were well known to Victorian politicians. This article considers a notable case of press management which went wrong. Or did it?
Gladstone and Liverpool: MP for South Lancashire, 1865-68
At a crucial stage in his career, Gladstone represented the area of his birth. This article links Liverpool’s reaction to electoral reform and Gladstone’s popularity.
Gladstone as Chancellor
The Exchequer brought fame to Gladstone but in return Gladstone raised the office to the forefront of politics.
A squire in the House of Lords
The political life of John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley (1826 – 1902).