Biography
Benjamin Disraeli was born in Bloomsbury, London, in 1804 into a Jewish family; after his father left the synagogue he was baptised an Anglican at the age of twelve. He worked as a solicitor's clerk and briefly read for the bar, but turned to writing, publishing his first novel, Vivian Grey, in 1826. He kept writing fiction all his life, including the political novels Coningsby and Sybil.
After several defeats he entered the House of Commons as a Conservative in 1837. He led the Young England group of Tory MPs and in 1846 became prominent by attacking Robert Peel over the repeal of the Corn Laws, which split the party. Under Lord Derby he was Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House of Commons in three governments, and in 1867 he carried the Second Reform Act, which extended the vote to many working-class men in the towns.
He became prime minister on Derby's retirement in 1868 but lost the election that year. Returning with a majority in 1874, his government passed social reforms, bought Britain a large stake in the Suez Canal Company and made Queen Victoria Empress of India; she made him Earl of Beaconsfield in 1876. At the Congress of Berlin in 1878 he secured a settlement of the Eastern question favourable to Britain and unfavourable to Russia.
Unpopular wars in Afghanistan and southern Africa, and farmers' anger at his refusal to restore the Corn Laws after poor harvests, helped Gladstone's Liberals defeat him in 1880. He led the Conservatives in opposition until his death in London in April 1881.
Offices held
John Charles Herries Succeeded by
William Ewart Gladstone
5 terms
- Feb 1, 1849 – Feb 1, 1852 Preceded by John Charles Herries Succeeded by Charles Manners, 6th Duke of Rutland
- Dec 1, 1852 – Feb 1, 1858 Preceded by John Russell, 1st Earl Russell Succeeded by Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston
- Jun 1, 1859 – Jun 1, 1866 Preceded by Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston Succeeded by William Ewart Gladstone
- Dec 1, 1868 – Feb 1, 1874 Preceded by John Russell, 1st Earl Russell Succeeded by William Ewart Gladstone
- Apr 21, 1880 – Apr 19, 1881 Preceded by Stafford Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh Succeeded by William Ewart Gladstone
Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax Succeeded by
George Ward Hunt
3 terms
- Feb 27, 1852 – Dec 17, 1852 Preceded by Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax Succeeded by William Ewart Gladstone
- Feb 26, 1858 – Jun 11, 1859 Preceded by George Cornewall Lewis Succeeded by William Ewart Gladstone
- Jul 6, 1866 – Feb 29, 1868 Preceded by William Ewart Gladstone Succeeded by George Ward Hunt
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby Succeeded by
William Ewart Gladstone
2 terms
- Feb 27, 1868 – Dec 1, 1868 Preceded by Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby Succeeded by William Ewart Gladstone
- Feb 20, 1874 – Apr 21, 1880 Preceded by William Ewart Gladstone Succeeded by William Ewart Gladstone
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby Succeeded by
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
