Undoubtedly, one of the popular British politicians in Greece in the 19th century was William Gladstone. Being one of its most liberal politicians United Kingdom in the middle of the 19th century, Gladstone, as he has come to be called in Greek, made a difference in politics, freely expressing his progressive views and sometimes coming into conflict with the conservative establishment of Old Albion. He was prime minister four times and served as a minister in several governmentsover a period of several decades.
Gladstone was born on December 1809 in Liverpool, North West England. John’s father was a wealthy merchant, landowner and politician, who in 1846 was knighted by the British crown, receiving the title of baronet. Although born and raised in Liverpool, Gladstone drew his origins from Scotland. On his mother’s side, in fact, Anne Mackenzie Robertson, he came from the Highlands of Scotland.
He enrolled at Oxford, where he immersed himself in ancient Greek and Roman literature and mathematics.
He spent his early school years at a Merseyside school and then enrolled, as family tradition dictated, at Eton. After completing secondary education, he enrolled at Oxford, where he studied ancient Greek and Roman literature and mathematics. During his student years, distinguished for his oratorical skilla trait that followed him in his political career as well. In those years he identified with the views of the Tories, the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom.
In 1832, at the age of just 22, he was elected Member of Parliament, and eleven years later, in 1843, he assumed the duties of Minister of Commerce of the great British Empire. Demonstrating his ability to manage a ministry related to the British economy, gained the trust of the dominant political figures of the time and assumed the Ministry of Finance between 1852-1855 and 1859-1866. He was for a few months in 1859 and High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands.
During the great Eastern Crisis of the years 1875-1878, he was one of the main critics of Benjamin Disraeli’s government.
In 1859 he joined the Liberal Party, as its leader he left an indelible mark on history. On 3 December 1868 he formed his first government as prime minister following his massive electoral victory. During his first term cut back on public spending on the condition that this policy would not harm society, he pursued a foreign policy directed world peace and the strengthening of British trade and promoted series of reforms on civil liberties.
During the great Eastern Crisis of 1875-1878, Gladstone was one of the main critics of Benjamin Disraeli’s government, calling on him to take action in favor of the Christians of the Ottoman Empire, who were suffering the oppression of the Ottomans. Three more prime ministerial terms followed, which were characterized by his liberal choices. He passed away in May, 1898, having completed over fifty years of engagement in political affairs.
Column editor: Myrto Katsigera, Vassilis Minakakis, Antigoni-Despina Poimenidou, Athanasios Syroplakis
