William Ewart Gladstone (29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four terms beginning in 1868 and ending in 1894. He also served as Chancellor of the Exchequer four times.

The ‘grand old man’ of British politics, Gladstone was responsible for major reforms in every sphere of national life, and for the development of imperial foreign policy. He divided the party on the issue of the Irish Home Rule and stamped his moral authority on the politics of his time. He was a considerable scholar and author in his own right.

Gladstone’s first government was to last until 1874. After his defeat by Disraeli’s Tories he resigned the Liberal leadership, but was to come to prominence again, and indeed served as Prime Minister on a further three occasions before his retirement in 1894.

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William Gladstone
William Gladstone