On This Day
06 April 1886
Death 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.