Churchill Lord Randolph

Churchill, Lord Randolph, born 1849, the third son of the seventh Duke of Marlborough, was educated at Eton and at Merton College, Oxford. He entered Parliament as member for Woodstock in 1874, and in 1880 he made himself prominent in politics as the leader of what was called the Fourth Party. Though not always in harmony with the leaders of the Conservative party, he did the party no harm even if he did it no good, and began to be looked upon as a possible Conservative leader of the future. In 1885, after contesting Birmingham unsuccessfully against Mr. Bright, he was returned for South Paddington, and was Lord Salisbury's Secretary for India. In 1886 he became Chancellor of the Exchequer and led the House of Commons, until he resigned suddenly, in December of that year, upon the question of economy. Since that time he dropped considerably out of politics, and went on an expedition to Mashonaland. On his return, it was remarked that his health had suffered considerably, and in 1895, he died.