Online Exhibition: Famous Victorians
Politicians
The voting system changed considerably during the Victorian period. At the beginning of Victoria's reign the right to vote depended on how much land you owned. An act of 1884 gave the vote to all men over twenty-one, (although women still could not vote). This meant that what poorer people wanted became more important in politics. In 1893 an Independent Labour party was founded. Until 1858 only people who possessed a certain amount of property could become Members of Parliament. William Gladstone (1809-1898) was Prime Minister four times between 1868 and 1894. Other political leaders included Peel, Palmerston, Disraeli and Salisbury
Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881)
Benjamin Disraeli was Queen Victoria's favourite Prime minister. He was Jewish by birth and did not go to a famous school and these things made it difficult for a person to become successful in Victorian society. However he wrote two novels, Coningsby (1844) and Sybil (1846) and joined the Conservative party, getting elected to parliament in 1837. He tried to improve the lives of the poor, and in 1867, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, he passed the Reform Act which allowed more people to vote. He also encouraged better
housing for workers and cleaner conditions in cities. In 1875, when he was Prime Minister, Britain gained control of the Suez Canal, which provided a quick route to India. He was Prime Minister in 1868 and later from 1874 (when he was seventy) to 1880. He died in 1881.
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield. From Men of Mark fifth series p1
