Journal of Liberal History

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

Journal of Liberal History

For the discussion and research of Liberal, Liberal Democrat and SDP history

1859-1886

  • Gladstone’s Midlothian Campaign of 1879

    The realpolitik of Christian humanitarianism.

  • The Liberals in opposition 1875-1880

    At the beginning of 1875, following his defeat by Disraeli in the 1874 general election, Gladstone resigned the leadership of the Liberal party, convincing himself that at the age of 65 he deeply desired an interval between parliament and the grave. But he did not resign his seat.

  • Gladstonian Liberalism

    Few statesmen left a deeper and more permanent mark on British Liberalism than William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898). What secured a unique place for him in the history of Liberalism was not simply the fact that he was Prime Minister four times (1868-74, 1880-85, 1886 and 1892-94), having previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer for…

  • William Edward Forster, 1818-1886

    W. E. Forster was a typical nineteenth century Radical: a successful self-made businessman of nonconformist origins who was driven by his conscience to work for the less well-off in the community. His great achievement was the successful creation of the framework for a state education system which is still recognisable today. His ill fortune was…

  • Sir William Harcourt, 1827-1904

    William George Granville Venables Vernon Harcourt was born at York on 14 October 1827, of a land-owning and clerical family which traced its ancestry to the Plantagenet kings. His elder brother, Edward Harcourt, was a staunch Conservative and for eight years an MP. William Harcourt’s views, however, began to take a Liberal turn in the…

  • Report: Joseph Chamberlain and the Unauthorised Programme

    Report of the Liberal Democrat History Group meeting held at the National Liberal Club on 25 July 2005, with Peter Marsh and Terry Jenkins.

  • A squire in the House of Lords

    The political life of John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley (1826 – 1902).

  • John Stuart Mill on votes for women

    'We ought not to deny to them, what we are conceding to everybody else' – House of Commons, 20 May 1867

  • Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, 1836-1908

    There have been four Liberals at the head of clearly Liberal governments – Gladstone, Rosebery, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman and Asquith. Three of them are well-known names. Yet of the four, ‘CB’ was far and away the best party leader. Only Grimond, in very different circumstances, can compare with him. Had Campbell-Bannerman not become leader in…

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