Who Was Benjamin Disraeli?
1804-1881
British Conservative
Known as a Snappy Dresser
A Great Novelist
A Brilliant Debator
And England's First and Only Jewish Prime Minister
Benjamin Disraeli, was born in London on 21st December, 1804. His father, Isaac
Disraeli, was the author of several books on literature and history, including
The Life and Reign of Charles I (1828). After a private education Disraeli was
trained as a solicitor.
Like his father, Isaac Disraeli, Benjamin took a keen interest in literature.
His first novel, Vivian Grey was published in 1826. The book sold very well and
was followed by The Young Duke (1831), Contarini Fleming (1832), Alroy (1833),
Henrietta Temple (1837) and Venetia (1837).
Disraeli was also interested in politics. In the early 1830s he stood in several
elections as a Whig, Radical and as an Independent. Disraeli's early attempts
ended in failure, but he was eventually elected to represent Maidstone in 1837.
Disraeli's maiden speech in the House of Commons was poorly received and after
enduring a great deal of barracking ended with the words: "though I sit down
now, the time will come when you will hear me." Disraeli was now a progressive
Tory and advocated triennial parliaments and the secret ballot. He was
sympathetic to the demands of the Chartists and in one speech argued that the
"rights of labour were as sacred as the rights of property".
In 1839 Benjamin Disraeli married the extremely wealthy widow, Mrs. Wyndham
Lewis. The marriage was a great success. On one occasion Disraeli remarked that
he had married for money, and his wife replied, "Ah! but if you had to do it
again, you would do it for love."
After the Conservative victory in the 1841 General Election, Disraeli suggested
to Sir Robert Peel, the new Prime Minister, that he would make a good government
minister. Peel disagreed and Disraeli had to remain on the backbenches. Disraeli
was hurt by Peel's rejection and over the next few years he became a harsh
critic of the Conservative government.
In 1842 Disraeli helped to form the Young England group. Disraeli and members of
his group argued that the middle class now had too much political power and
advocated an alliance between the aristocracy and the working class. Disraeli
suggested that the aristocracy should use their power to help protect the poor.
This political philosophy was expressed in Disraeli's novels Coningsby (1844),
Sybil (1845) and Tancred (1847). In these books the leading characters show
concern about poverty and the injustice of the parliamentary system. Disraeli
favoured a policy of protectionism and strongly opposed Peel's decision to
repeal the Corn Laws. This issue split the Conservative Party and Disraeli's
attacks on Peel helped to bring about his political downfall.
In 1852 Lord John Russell, the leader of the Whig government, resigned. Lord
Derby, the new Prime Minister, appointed Disraeli as his Chancellor of the
Exchequer. This period of power only lasted a few months and Derby was soon
replaced by the Earl of Aberdeen.
Lord Derby became Prime Minister again in 1858 and once again Disraeli was
appointed as Chancellor of the Exchequer. He also became leader of the House of
Commons and was responsible for the introduction of measures to reform
parliament. In February, 1858, Disraeli proposed the equalization of the town
and county franchise. This would have resulted in some men in towns losing the
vote and was opposed by the Liberals. An amendment proposed by Lord John Russell
"condemning this disfranchisement" was passed by 330 to 291.
In 1859 Lord Palmerston, became Prime Minister, and Disraeli once more lost his
position in the government. For the next seven years the Liberals were in power
and it was not until 1866 that Disraeli returned to the cabinet. Once again,
Lord Derby appointed Disraeli as his Chancellor of the Exchequer and leader of
the House of Commons.
Some members of the Liberal Party, including the new leader, William Gladstone,
had been in favour of legislation that would have extended the franchise. His
attempts to obtain parliamentary reform failed but Disraeli was convinced that
if the Liberals returned to power, Gladstone was certain to try again. Benjamin
Disraeli argued that the Conservatives were in danger of being seen as an
anti-reform party. In 1867 Disraeli proposed a new Reform Act. Lord Cranborne
(later the Marquis of Salisbury) resigned in protest against this extension of
democracy.
In the House of Commons, Disraeli's proposals were supported by Gladstone and
his followers and the measure was passed. The 1867 Reform Act gave the vote to
every male adult householder living in a borough constituency. Male lodgers
paying £10 for unfurnished rooms were also granted the vote. This gave the vote
to about 1,500,000 men.
The Reform Act also dealt with constituencies and boroughs with less than 10,000
inhabitants lost one of their MPs. The forty-five seats left available were
distributed by: (i) giving fifteen to towns which had never had an MP; (ii)
giving one extra seat to some larger towns - Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham
and Leeds; (iii) creating a seat for the University of London; (iv) giving
twenty-five seats to counties whose population had increased since 1832.
In 1868 Lord Derby resigned and Benjamin Disraeli became the new Prime Minister.
However, in the 1868 General Election that followed, William Gladstone and the
Liberals were returned to power with a majority of 170.
After six years in opposition, Disraeli and the Conservative Party won the 1874
General Election. It was the first time since 1841 that the Tories in the House
of Commons had a clear majority. Disraeli now had the opportunity to the develop
the ideas that he had expressed when he was leader of the Young England group in
the 1840s. Social reforms passed by the Disraeli government included: the
Artisans Dwellings Act (1875), the Public Health Act (1875), the Pure Food and
Drugs Act (1875), the Climbing Boys Act (1875), the Education Act (1876).
Disraeli also introduced measures to protect workers such as the 1874 Factory
Act and the Climbing Boys Act (1875). Disraeli also kept his promise to improve
the legal position of trade unions. The Conspiracy and Protection of Property
Act (1875) allowed peaceful picketing and the Employers and Workmen Act (1878)
enabled workers to sue employers in the civil courts if they broke legally
agreed contracts.
Unlike William Gladstone, Disraeli got on very well with Queen Victoria. She
approved of Disraeli's imperialist views and his desire to make Britain the most
powerful nation in the world. In 1876 Victoria agreed to his suggestion that she
should accept the title of Empress of India.
In August 1876 Queen Victoria granted Disraeli the title Lord Beaconsfield.
Disraeli now left the House of Commons but continued as Prime Minister and now
used the House of Lords to explain his government's policies. At the Congress of
Berlin in 1878 Disraeli gained great acclaim for his success in limiting
Russia's power in the Balkans.
The Liberals defeated the Conservatives in the 1880 General Election and after
William Gladstone became Prime Minister, Disraeli decided to retire from
politics. Disraeli hoped to spend his retirement writing novels but soon after
the publication of Endymion (1880) he became very ill. Benjamin Disraeli died on
19th April, 1881.
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