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[[Image: Gladstone.jpg|thumb|right|220px|William Ewart Gladstone, four times [[Prime Minister]] of the [[United Kingdom]]]]

'''William Ewart Gladstone''' (1809-1898), a Scot, was the great [[British Liberal Party|Liberal]] prime minister of Britain's golden age of parliamentary government. Along with his equally great [[Conservative]] rival [[Benjamin Disraeli]] he dominated British politics for the second half of the 19th century.<ref> "Liberal" and "Conservative" had very different meanings in 19th century Britain compared to American usage in the 21st century.</ref>  Gladstone served as Liberal prime minister four times (1868–74, 1880–85, 1886, and 1892–94). His financial policies, based on the notion of balanced budgets, low taxes and laissez-faire, were suited to a developing capitalist society but could not respond effectively as economic and social conditions changed. Called the "Grand Old Man" later in life, he was always a dynamic popular orator who appealed strongly to British workers and lower middle class. The deeply religious Gladstone brought a new moral tone to politics with his evangelical sensibility and opposition to aristocracy. His moralism often angered his upper-class opponents (including Queen Victoria), and his heavy-handed control split the Liberal party. His foreign policy goal was to create a European order based on cooperation rather than conflict and mutual trust instead of rivalry and suspicion; the rule of law was to supplant the reign of force and self-interest. This Gladstonian concept of a harmonious [[Concert of Europe]] was opposed to and ultimately defeated by a [[Bismark|Bismarckian system]] of manipulated alliances and antagonisms.

'''William Ewart Gladstone''' (1809–1898) was a British statesman and four-time [[Prime Minister]] (1868–1874, 1880–1885, 1886 and 1892–1894) of the [[British Liberal Party]]. He is best known for his extensive political reforms and skilled oratory. A scholar as well as a politician, he was the primary political rival of [[Benjamin Disraeli]]. Still considered to be one of Britain's greatest Prime Ministers, Gladstone was the inspiration for [[Winston Churchill]] and others.

 

[[Image: Gladstone.jpg|thumb|right|220px|William Ewart Gladstone, Liberal Prime Minister of Britain in the late 19th century]]

 

Considered to be one of Britain's greatest Prime Ministers, Gladstone was the inspiration for [[Winston Churchill]] and is admired as well by many American conservatives.

==Early career to 1868==

==Early career to 1868==

Gladstone was a devout Christian throughout his life; religion had a profound impact on his political actions. In his early career he was intent on maintaining relations between Church and State, although he later realised that this was too idealistic and advocated 'greater autonomy' for the Anglican Church and toleration of other faiths and denominations.  

Gladstone was a devout Christian throughout his life; religion had a profound impact on his political actions. In his early career he was intent on maintaining relations between Church and State, although he later realised that this was too idealistic and advocated 'greater autonomy' for the Anglican Church and toleration of other faiths and denominations.  

Gladstone insited on a high moral purpose in his politics, and was generally true to this commitment. This may explain his later conversion to more radical politics; campaigning for social justice and welfare for those less fortunate as a moral responsibility. It is also shown in his mission to 'pacify Ireland' in 1868, and his denunciation of the atrocities committed by the Ottoman Empire on Bulgarian Christians in the late 1870s.   

Gladstone insisted on a high moral purpose in his politics, and was generally true to this commitment. This may explain his later conversion to more radical politics; campaigning for social justice and welfare for those less fortunate as a moral responsibility. It is also shown in his mission to 'pacify Ireland' in 1868, and his denunciation of the atrocities committed by the Ottoman Empire on Bulgarian Christians in the late 1870s.   

Gladstone's evangelical stance often attracted criticism from his opponents and alienated sections of his own party. Luckily for Gladstone however, his moral crusades were generally supported by an enthusiastic political public.

Gladstone's evangelical stance often attracted criticism from his opponents and alienated sections of his own party. Luckily for Gladstone however, his moral crusades were generally supported by an enthusiastic political public.

* Believed that success was the result of hard work and that failure showed a lack of moral spirit. He therefore believed that the poor should help themselves to alleviate their own condition.

* Believed that success was the result of hard work and that failure showed a lack of moral spirit. He therefore believed that the poor should help themselves to alleviate their own condition.

* A strong supporter of the British monarchy, despite [[Queen Victoria|Queen Victoria’s]] dislike of him. She never liked his serious demeanour, and complained: "He always addresses me as if I were a public meeting."

* A strong supporter of the British monarchy, despite [[Queen Victoria|Queen Victoria’s]] dislike of him. She never liked his serious demeanor, and complained: "He always addresses me as if I were a public meeting."

* Described himself as a ‘man in politics’ rather than a politician. He only wanted to do useful work for the good of the country and could never understand his popularity.

* Described himself as a ‘man in politics’ rather than a politician. He only wanted to do useful work for the good of the country and could never understand his popularity.

* Bebbington, David, and  Roger Swift, eds. ''Gladstone Centenary Essays'' (2000) [http://www.questiaschool.com/read/102340490 online edition]

* Bebbington, David, and  Roger Swift, eds. ''Gladstone Centenary Essays'' (2000) [http://www.questiaschool.com/read/102340490 online edition]

* Bebbington, David. ''William Ewart Gladstone: Faith and Politics in Victorian Britain'' (1993)

* Bebbington, David. ''William Ewart Gladstone: Faith and Politics in Victorian Britain'' (1993)

* Biagini, Eugenio F. ''Liberty, Retrenchment and Reform: Popular Liberalism in the Age of Gladstone, 1860-1880'' (1992), explains Gladstone's popularity by its conguence with popular political values

* Biagini, Eugenio F. ''Liberty, Retrenchment and Reform: Popular Liberalism in the Age of Gladstone, 1860-1880'' (1992), explains Gladstone's popularity by its congruence with popular political values

* Blake, Robert. ''Disraeli'' (1967), 819pp standard biography

* Blake, Robert. ''Disraeli'' (1967), 819pp standard biography

* Buxton,  S. C. ''Mr. Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer: A Study'' (1901), 197pp [http://books.google.com/books?id=_YcJAAAAIAAJ&dq=Finance+and+politics+an+historical+study&num=100&as_brr=1    online edition]

* Buxton,  S. C. ''Mr. Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer: A Study'' (1901), 197pp [http://books.google.com/books?id=_YcJAAAAIAAJ&dq=Finance+and+politics+an+historical+study&num=100&as_brr=1    online edition]