William Ewart Gladstone
| Lord Salisbury described William Ewart Gladstone as “a great Christian Statesman”. Religion underpinned Gladstone's politics, although, at times, not straightforwardly, and many contemporaries failed to see the nuances in this relationship. First a Tory in Robert Peel's cabinet, he | 
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| later made a name for himself as a Liberal statesman. He held the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer four times and served as Prime Minister on four occasions. Committed to reducing public spending and to electoral reform, he is particularly remembered for his removal of protectionist tariffs and his crusade for Irish Home Rule. He had a strong sense of duty which manifested itself in charitable deeds. | ||
