Gladstone (glad'-stun), William Ewart. Statesman, orator, and man of letters. Born in Liverpool in 1809. Son of a Liverpool merchant, and of Ann, daughter of Andrew Robertson, Stornoway. Was educated at Eton and Oxford, and entered parliament in 1832, as member for Newark in the Tory interest. Gladstone delivered his maiden speech on slavery emancipation June 3, 1833. Accepted office under Sir Robert Peel in 1834, and again in 1841 and 1846. As member for Oxford, separating from the Tory Party, took office under Lord Abeerdeen and, in 1859, under Lord Palmserston, became chancellor of the exchequer. Elected member for South Lancashire in 1863, he became leader of the Commons under Lord John Russell. Elected for Greenwich, he became premier for the first time in 1868, holding office until 1874. After a brilliant campaign in Midlothian, he returned to that county in 1880, and became premier for the second time; became premier a third time in 1886, and a fourth time in 1892. During his tenure of office, he introduced and carried a great number of important measures, but failed from desertion in the Liberal ranks to carry his pet measure of home rule for Ireland. So he retired from office into private life in 1895, and spent his last days chiefly in literary work, the fruit of which added to earlier works, gives evidence of the breadth of his sympathies and the extent of his scholarly attainments. Gladstone died at Hawarden, May 19, 1898, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

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