William Ewart Gladstone

The Right Honourable William Ewart Gladstone (29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British Liberal statesman and Prime Minister (1868–1874, 1880–1885, 1886 and 1892–1894). He was a notable political reformer, known for his populist speeches, and was for many years the main political rival of Benjamin Disraeli.

Early Life

Born in Liverpool in 1809, William Ewart Gladstone was the fourth son of the merchant Sir John Gladstones (the final "s" was dropped from the family name to make it easier to pronounce). Although Gladstone was born and brought up in Liverpool, and always retained a touch of Lancashire accent, he was of Scottish descent on both of his parents' sides. William was educated at Eton College, and in 1828 matriculated at Christ Church College, Oxford where he took classics and mathematics, which he had no great interest in, in order to obtain a double first. In December 1831 he sat his final examinations and found out on the same day that he had achieved a double first. Gladstone was a President of the Oxford Union debating society where he developed a reputation as a fine orator, a reputation that followed him into the House of Commons. At university Gladstone was a Tory and denounced Whig proposals for parliamentary reform.

Related Topics:
Liverpool - 1809 - Lancashire - Scottish - Eton College - 1828 - Matriculated - Christ Church College, Oxford - Double first - 1831 - Oxford Union debating society - House of Commons - Tory - Whig

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He was first elected to Parliament in 1832 as Conservative MP for Newark. Initially he was extremely reactionary (High Toryism), opposing the abolition of slavery and factory legislation. In 1838 he published a book The State in its Relations with the Church. In 1839 he married Catherine Glynne, to whom he remained married for 49 years.

Related Topics:
1832 - Conservative - Newark - High Toryism - Slavery - 1838 - 1839 - Catherine Glynne

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In 1840 Gladstone began his rescue and rehabilitation of London prostitutes. He would walk the London streets and try to convince prostitutes to change their ways.

Related Topics:
1840 - Prostitute

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