THE RIGHT HON. WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE, statesman and orator, the third son of Sir John Gladstone, Baronet of Fasque, in Kincardineshire, was born in 1809, at Liverpool. He was sent to Eton, where he distinguished himself as a student, and afterwards entered Christ Church, Oxford, Where he closed a brilliant college career by taking a double first class degree in 1831. He entered the House of Commons in 1832, for the Duke of Newcastle's borough of Newark. He held the post of Lord of the Treasury, and afterwards that of Under-Secretary of State for the colonies, in the Peel government, for a few months in 1834-1835. In 1841, Gladstone became Vice-President of the Board of Trade in the Peel administration, and, in 1843, President of the Board. He rendered Sir Robert Peel eloquent and effective aid in carrying the great measure of free-trade through the House of Commons, but paid the penalty in the loss both of his office and his seat, for the then Duke of Newcastle, claiming to "to do what he liked with his own," refused to sanction his re-election for Newark. In 1847, he was elected M.P. for the University of Oxford.
After refusing to hold office under Lord Derby, he became Chancellor of the Exchequer in the coalition government formed by the Earl of Aberdeen in 1852. When that government fell, Gladstone continued for a brief period a member of the cabinet of Lord Palmerston, but soon retired. In 1858, Gladstone again refused to take office under Lord Derby, but consented to visit the Ionian Islands, as Lord High Commissioner Extra-ordinary. In the second Palmerstone administration, he resumed the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer. In 1860, he carried through Parliament the commercial treaty with France, which largely increased the trade between the two countries. As an orator, Gladstone probably had no superior in the House of Commons, and in debate he stood unrivalled. He possessed a voice of great power and compass, an earnest and persuasive intonation, a perfect elocution, and easy and expressive gestures. Best of all his eloquence was animated by principle and conscientiousness, as well as high intellect. He continued to represent Oxford University until 1865, when he was defeated by the Tory candidate. After the death of Palmerstone, he became leader of the House of Commons, and was Chancellor of the Exchequer under Earl Russell until his resignation in April, 1866.
Gladstone advocated the disestablishment of the Episcopal Church in Ireland, which passed in 1868, but the defeated tory minister would not resign and a new election was held, which resulted in Gladstone becoming Prime Minister. In July, 1869, the Irish disestablishment Bill was finally passed, the Peers at first resisting, but finally succumbing to the will of the people. In 1874, he resigned in the face of a Conservative majority, and was succeeded by Disraeli. On the retirement of Disraeli, he was again called to the Premiership, and in spite of his advanced years has conducted the government with signal ability, in the face of trying and difficult problems, connected with the government of Ireland. As Prime Minister, Gladstone was one of the most popular and influential who ever led England.