Brief Biography of William Gladstone: A Liberal Statesman | Annotated

A Brief Biography of William Gladstone (Annotated)

by Dean Mosman

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	155 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	13 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898) was a British statesman who served as Prime Minister four times. He was a prominent figure in the Liberal Party and played a major role in the development of British politics in the 19th century.

Gladstone was born in Liverpool, England, on December 29, 1809. His father was a wealthy merchant and his mother was the daughter of a Scottish baronet. Gladstone was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford, where he studied classics and mathematics. He graduated in 1831 with a first-class degree.

After graduating from Oxford, Gladstone worked as a private secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, William Huskisson. In 1832, he was elected to the House of Commons as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Newark. Gladstone quickly rose through the ranks of the Conservative Party and served as President of the Board of Trade (1841-1846) and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1852-1855).

In 1859, Gladstone joined the Liberal Party and became its leader in the House of Commons. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer again from 1860 to 1866 and from 1873 to 1874. As Chancellor, Gladstone introduced a number of important reforms, including the abolition of the paper duty (1861),the of income tax (1860),and the establishment of the National Debt Commissioners (1860).

Gladstone served as Prime Minister four times: 1868-1874, 1880-1885, 1886, and 1892-1894. During his time as Prime Minister, Gladstone introduced a number of important reforms, including the secret ballot (1872),the extension of the franchise to male householders (1884),and the of free elementary education (1891).

Gladstone was a complex and controversial figure. He was a brilliant orator and a charismatic leader, but he was also known for his stubbornness and his inability to compromise. Gladstone's legacy is mixed: he was a great Liberal statesman who introduced a number of important reforms, but he was also a divisive figure who often alienated his opponents.

Annotations

• William Huskisson (1770-1830) was a British statesman who served as President of the Board of Trade from 1823 to 1827. He was a leading advocate of free trade and was responsible for a number of important reforms, including the abolition of the Corn Laws (1828).
• The Conservative Party is one of the two major political parties in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1834 as the Tory Party and was renamed the Conservative Party in 1867. The Conservative Party is generally considered to be on the right-wing of the political spectrum.
• The Liberal Party is one of the two major political parties in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1859 and is generally considered to be on the left-wing of the political spectrum.
• The paper duty was a tax on paper that was imposed in the United Kingdom from 1695 to 1861. The paper duty was a major burden on the newspaper industry and was eventually abolished in 1861.
• Income tax is a tax on income that is levied by the government. Income tax was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1842 and has been a major source of revenue for the government ever since.
• The National Debt Commissioners are a body of Commissioners who are responsible for managing the National Debt of the United Kingdom. The National Debt Commissioners were established in 1860 and are responsible for ensuring that the National Debt is managed in a sustainable way.
• The secret ballot is a method of voting in which the voter's choice is kept secret from others. The secret ballot was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1872 and has been used in all elections since then.
• The extension of the franchise to male householders was a major reform that was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1884. Before 1884, only male property owners could vote in elections. The extension of the franchise to male householders allowed all men who lived in a house or apartment to vote.
• Free elementary education was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1891. Before 1891, only children from wealthy families could afford to go to school. The of free elementary education made it possible for all children to receive a basic education.

A Brief Biography of William Gladstone (Annotated)

by Dean Mosman

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	155 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	13 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE