On This Day

11 July 1818

Birth of William Edward Forster, Liberal MP for Bradford 1861-85 and Bradford Central 1885-86.

During Gladstone’s first government Forster was responsible for two key pieces of legislation the 1870 Education Act which was the first attempt by British government to provide a level of universal elementary education and the 1872 Ballot Act which provided for secret ballots in all elections. He later served as Chief Secretary for Ireland and adopted a policy of coercion in an attempt to defeat the Irish patriots. He resigned when Gladstone came to an agreement with Irish nationalist leader Charles Stewart Parnell. Bradford Forster Square railway station is named after him.