|
More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
|
Lord Derby
|
|
(1799–1869, 14th earl 1851) Prime minister for three relatively brief periods – 1852, 1858–9 and 1866–8. His early political achievements related to Ireland, where his family had extensive estates. An MP from 1820, he entered the cabinet in 1831 as chief secretary for Ireland, and passed a bill much in advance of its time introducing a system of state education in the province. In 1846 he became the leader of the Conservative majority which parted company with Peel on the issue of the *Corn Laws.
|
|
|
|
His administration of 1858 took in hand the government of *India and removed the political restrictions on Jews, enabling Lionel Nathan *Rothschild to take his seat in the House of Commons. Something of a brilliant amateur, Derby was less dynamic than his deputy in the House of Commons, *Disraeli, who succeeded him when ill health forced Derby to resign in 1868. Together they had pushed through the Reform Act of 1867, the first extension of the *franchise since 1832.
|
|
|
|