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.

Minister under Peel

Gladstone was re-elected in 1841. In the second ministry of Robert Peel he served as President of the Board of Trade (1843–1844). He resigned in 1845 on a matter of conscience — the Maynooth Seminary issue. In order to improve relations with Irish Catholics Peel's government proposed increasing the annual grant paid to the Maynooth Seminary for training Catholic priests. Gladstone had previously written a book in which he had argued that a Protestant country should not pay money to other churches. Even though Gladstone supported the increase in the Maynooth grant and voted for it in the commons he resigned rather than have opponents accuse him of compromising his principles in order to remain in office. On accepting his resignation Peel declared "I really have great difficulty sometimes in exactly comprehending what he means".

Related Topics:
1841 - Robert Peel - President of the Board of Trade - 1843 - 1844 - 1845 - Maynooth Seminary

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Gladstone returned to Peel's government as Colonial Secretary in December. The following year the government fell over Peel's repeal of the Corn Laws and Gladstone followed his leader into detachment from the mainstream bulk of the Conservatives. After Peel's death in 1850, Gladstone would emerge as the leader of the Peelites in the House of Commons.

Related Topics:
Colonial Secretary - Corn Laws - 1850 - Peelites

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As Chancellor he pushed to extend the free trade liberalisations in the 1840s and worked to reduce public expenditure. He also took his moral and religious ideals into politics, but in a progressive manner later called Gladstonian Liberalism. He was re-elected for the University of Oxford in 1847 and became a constant critic of Lord Palmerston.

Related Topics:
Free trade - 1840s - 1847 - Lord Palmerston

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In 1848 he also founded the Church Penitentiary Association for the Reclamation of Fallen Women. In May 1849 he began his most active "rescue work" with "fallen women" and met prostitutes late at night either on the street, in his house or in their houses. He wrote their names in his notebook. He aided the House of Mercy at Clewer, near Windsor (which exercised extreme in-house discipline) and spent much time arranging employment for ex-prostitutes. His wife was aware of these activities. There is no evidence he ever actually used their services, although shortly afterwards his diary would sometimes be marked with the small drawing of a whip. It is believed this means he felt tempted, and he is known to have actually whipped himself as a means of repentance.

Related Topics:
1848 - May - 1849 - Windsor

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