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Portrait of Henry Campbell-Bannerman

Prime Ministers · 20th century

Henry Campbell-Bannerman

1836–1908 · British (Scottish)

Liberal

In office: 1905–1908

Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, known as "CB", became Liberal prime minister in December 1905 and won a landslide in the 1906 general election. His government granted self-government to the Transvaal and Orange River Colony, passed the Trade Disputes Act and began the Liberal welfare reforms continued by Asquith. He resigned through ill health in April 1908 and died at 10 Downing Street days later.

How to spot them

  • ▸'CB'; Glasgow-born; the 1906 Liberal landslide
  • ▸Condemned the 'methods of barbarism' in the Boer War
  • ▸The only prime minister to die at 10 Downing Street
  • ▸First to be officially styled 'Prime Minister'

In office

The 'methods of barbarism' speech on Boer War concentration camps (1901)

Made as Liberal leader in opposition; caused uproar

The Liberal landslide general election (1906)

Liberals won around 400 seats; 29 Labour MPs also elected

Trade Disputes Act 1906 (1906)

Protected trade unions from being sued for damages over strikes, reversing the Taff Vale judgment

Self-government granted to the Transvaal and Orange River Colony (1906–1907)

Conciliation of the defeated Boer republics

Anglo-Russian Convention (Entente) (1907)

Settled rivalry in Persia, Afghanistan and Tibet, completing the Triple Entente

Probation of Offenders Act 1907 (1907)

Laid the foundations of the modern probation service

Haldane's army reforms creating the Territorial Force (1907–1908)

Reorganisation by his War Secretary, Richard Haldane

Key ideas

  • Free trade, Irish Home Rule and social reform
  • Held together all wings of the Liberal Party, including the Liberal Imperialists who had plotted to sideline him (the Relugas Compact)

Quick-fire facts

  • •Born Henry Campbell; added 'Bannerman' under the terms of a maternal uncle's will
  • •Son of a Lord Provost of Glasgow; MP for Stirling Burghs from 1868
  • •Secretary of State for War under Gladstone and Rosebery
  • •Official precedence for the office of 'Prime Minister' was granted by royal warrant in December 1905, shortly after he took office
  • •Resigned on 3 April 1908 and died at No. 10 on 22 April 1908
  • •Quoted as a great believer in bed, 'in constantly keeping horizontal'

Drill it — 6 cards

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Sources