Gladstone and Disraeli 1800 -1898 timeline
1804 – Disraeli is born.
1809 – Gladstone is born.
1832 – Gladstone first enters
the Commons as a Tory MP who opposed parliamentary reform, defended slavery and
the Anglican Church.
1837 – Disraeli enters parliament,
representing the rotten borough of Maidstone. He was a Tory and backed Peel.
1839 – Disraeli marries the
wife of his sponsor, his wife was twelve years older than him, and he was able
to pay off his debts.
1841 to 1843 – Gladstone
assumes junior office under Peel.
1843 to 1845 – Gladstone has
Cabinet office under Peel. And he shows his support for Free Trade. He is
member of the Cabinet as president of the Board of Trade in Peel’s Conservative
government.
1844 – Disraeli and the
‘Young England’ group begin to attack Peel’s policies. Disraeli’s novel
Coningsby attacks the Tamworth Manifesto as ‘an attempt to construct a party
without principles’.
1845 – Peel passes Maynooth
grant. As a result 149 Tory MPs opposed it.
1846 – Repeal of Corn Laws. The
Tory party subsequently splits into Protectionists and Peelites. Gladstone
sides with Peel and Disraeli with the Protectionists led by Derby.
1852 – Disraeli first holds
Cabinet office as Chancellor of the Exchequer under Palmerston and then
Russell.
1859 – The Conservative’s
franchise reform bill is defeated. Palmerston and Russell agree to bring down
the Tory government (meeting at Willis rooms). Palmerston becomes Prime
Minister.
1859 to 1866 – Gladstone
becomes Chancellor for the second time. He joins the Whigs out of ambition and
dislike of Disraeli. (Read more after Break)
1860 – Disraeli begins to
reform the Tory party.
1861 – Gladstone repeals the
paper duties, thus improving literacy, despite opposition from the Lords. Also
the American civil war breaks out.
1862 – Gladstone gains a
popular reputation as a reformer after touring around many of the Northern
industrial towns.
1863 – Marked the year when
the Post Office Savings Bank was ordered to be established by Gladstone.
1864 – Gladstone states that
he wishes for further, more extensive parliamentary reform.
1865 – American civil war
comes to an end. Palmerston wins general election with an increased liberal
majority. Palmerston dies being succeeded by Russell who had a commitment to
parliamentary reform.
1866 – Russell Liberal
government defeated over reform proposals
1867 – Disraeli manages to
pass the Second Reform Act; Gladstone becomes leader of the Liberal Party.
1868 – Marked the year of
Disraeli’s first ministry. A short-lived event, resulting in Disraeli’s
government being ousted from government, he continued to serve as leader of the
Conservatives.
1868 to 1874 – Gladstone’s
First Ministry: During his ministry parliament witnessed major
reforms/legislation dealing with the Irish Church, civil service, army,
elementary education, law courts, the secret ballot and trade unions. Disraeli
was furious as many of these reforms conflicted with a deeply held Tory policy
that was “Crown, Church and Constitution.”
1874 to 1874 – Marked
Disraeli’s Second Ministry, which saw significant social reform. For example
with regard to public health, factory conditions and working hours, picketing
and the removal of inner city slums which was able to occur due to new powers
given to local councils.
With regard to foreign
policy this period in history also saw major developments in foreign affairs
under Disraeli’s directive. For instance the purchase of the Suez Canal shares,
both wars in Afghanistan and South Africa, in addition to making Queen Victoria
the Empress of India (a very significant statement of British power and
prestige). The 1878 Congress of Berlin also serves to temporarily resolve the
Eastern Question- illustrates that Disraeli was open to multilateral diplomacy.
In 1876 Disraeli is
made the Earl of Beaconsfield.
1875 – Gladstone grows
disillusioned and resigns from his position as leader of the Liberal Party; he
only re-emerged into politics during the 1879 to 1880 Midlothian campaigns.
1880 to 1885 – Gladstone
forms his Second Ministry, he proceeded with Britain’s involvement in colonial
wars such as in the Sudan and he instigated a war in Egypt. More reform:
·
Redistribution Act: 1885
·
Irish Land Act: 1881 –
was an attempt to resolve the Irish Question
·
Third Reform Act: 1884
1881 – Disraeli dies
1886 – Gladstone’s Third
Ministry and he continues to address the Irish question.
1892 to 1894 – Gladstone’s
Fourth Ministry, also dominated by Irish Home Rule.
1898 – Gladstone dies.