On This Day
04 September 1843
Birth of Sir Charles Dilke, cabinet minister at 39 whose career ended abruptly in scandal
Birth of Sir Charles Dilke. Dilke was Liberal MP for Chelsea 1868-1886 and served in Gladstone’s Second Cabinet as President of the Local Government Board from 1882, playing a leading role in steering the Third Reform Act through Parliament. In 1886 Dilke was involved in a high profile divorce case and the resulting scandal cost him his seat and ended his ministerial career. Dilke returned to Parliament in 1892 as MP for the Forest of Dean, serving until his death in 1911. Later in life Dilke served as President of the Royal Statistical Society.