William Ewart Gladstone

ABOUT WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE

British statesman and politician of the Liberal Party whose career spanned over 60 years. He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for 12 years over four non-consecutive terms and as Chancellor of the Exchequer for over 12 years. He was called "The People's William" due to his popularity among the working class. He put forward a political doctrine that was later dubbed Gladstonian Liberalism, opposing trade protectionism and placing emphasis on equality of opportunity.

He attended Eton College before going on to study classics and mathematics at Oxford, graduating in 1831 with a double first-class degree. He began his political career as a High Tory in the House of Commons in 1832.

He was against opium trade and was an intense critic of the Opium Wars. He made a famous speech in Parliament against the First Opium War.

He was born and raised in Liverpool to parents John Gladstone and Anne MacKenzie Robertson. He had a sister named Helen. He married his wife Catherine in 1839.

He served as Chancellor under John Russell from 1865 to 1866.