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Portrait of Earl of Rosebery

Prime Ministers · 19th century

Earl of Rosebery

1847–1929 · British (Scottish)

Liberal

In office: 1894–1895

Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, succeeded Gladstone as Liberal prime minister in March 1894 but led a divided government for only about 15 months. A wealthy Scottish aristocrat and champion of the British Empire, he later led the Liberal Imperialists. He is best remembered for fulfilling his reputed three ambitions: to marry an heiress, win the Derby and become prime minister.

How to spot them

  • ▸Reputed ambitions: marry an heiress, win the Derby, become PM — achieved all three
  • ▸Derby winners Ladas (1894) and Sir Visto (1895) while prime minister
  • ▸Married Hannah de Rothschild; succeeded Gladstone in 1894
  • ▸Left Oxford rather than give up his racehorse
  • ▸First chairman of the London County Council; Liberal Imperialist

In office

Owning Derby winners Ladas and Sir Visto while in office (1894–1895)

Won the Derby in both years of his premiership

Succeeding Gladstone after the Grand Old Man's final resignation (1894)

Chosen by Queen Victoria in preference to Sir William Harcourt

Harcourt's budget introducing death duties (estate duty) (1894)

Graduated duty on estates brought in by his Chancellor

Government defeated on the 'cordite vote' (1895)

A snap censure vote on army supplies of cordite led to the government's resignation

'The British Empire is a Commonwealth of Nations' (1884)

Celebrated phrase from a speech in Adelaide, Australia

Key ideas

  • Liberal Imperialism: combining Liberal politics at home with enthusiastic support for the Empire
  • Uneasy about Irish Home Rule, which divided him from much of his party

Quick-fire facts

  • •Bought the racehorse Ladas while at Christ Church, Oxford; told to choose between horse and degree, he chose the horse
  • •Managed Gladstone's Midlothian Campaign of 1879
  • •Foreign Secretary in 1886 and 1892–94
  • •First chairman of the London County Council (1889)
  • •Married Hannah de Rothschild in 1878; she died in 1890
  • •Resigned as Liberal leader in 1896
  • •Wrote biographies including Pitt and Napoleon: The Last Phase
  • •Asked to hear the Eton Boating Song on his deathbed in 1929

Drill it — 6 cards

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Sources