England Objects to the Treaty of Versailles, June 1, 1919

Journal of Liberal History

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24 March 1908

Death of Spencer Compton Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire, Liberal statesman who broke with Gladstone over Ireland

Known throughout his career as an MP by the family courtesy title of Marquess of Hartington, he first served under Palmerston and joined Russell’s cabinet in 1866 aged only 34, later serving under Gladstone as a reluctant Chief Secretary for Ireland. He had a long career in the Commons, serving as Liberal, later Liberal Unionist, MP for North Lancashire 1857-68, Radnor 1869-80, North East Lancashire 1880-85 and Rossendale 1885-91. In the wake of Gladstone’s temporary retirement following the Liberal defeat in the 1874 general election, Hartington led the Liberal Party from 1875 to 80. Increasingly unhappy with Gladstone’s Irish policy, Hartington led a breakaway group of Liberal Unionists to oppose the Home Rule Bill and then to support the Conservatives, at first from the opposition benches and then from 1895 in coalition, with Devonshire entering the cabinet. He resigned in 1903 over tariff reform and spent his remaining years in quiet retirement.

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We publish the Journal of Liberal History and a range of books

The Liberal Democrat History Group promotes the discussion and research of topics relating to the histories of the British Liberal Democrats and its predecessor parties, the Liberal Party and the SDP, and of liberalism more broadly.

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We aim to appeal to anyone with an interest in the history of British Liberalism, whether academics, party activists or spare-time students of political history.

Things we do:

Publish the quarterly Journal of Liberal History, containing articles, book reviews, biographies, and meeting reports

Publish books, including Peace, Reform and Liberation: A History of Liberal Politics in Britain 1679-2011Dictionary of Liberal Thought, and Great Liberal Speeches

Make resources available to students of Liberal history, including news of research in progress and guides to archive sources (see Research resources)

Provide a concise history of the Liberal Democrats and its predecessor parties, along with a more extensive set of historical articles and biographies – the Liberal History Online project, available through themes and time periods.

Publish shorter booklets as concise reference sources, including Liberal History (a concise history of the Liberal Democrats and its predecessor parties), Liberal Leaders 1828-1899Liberal Leaders of the Twentieth Century and Mothers of Liberty: Women who built British Liberalism

Organise discussion meetings, both in London and as fringe meetings at Liberal Democrat conferences

“There are hazards in everything one does, but there are greater hazards in doing nothing.”

Shirley Williams

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