First Gladstone ministry

First Gladstone ministry
1868–1874
Gladstone (1874)
Date formed3 December 1868 (1868-12-03)
Date dissolved17 February 1874 (1874-02-17)
People and organisations
MonarchVictoria
Prime MinisterWilliam Gladstone
Total no. of members125 appointments
Member partyLiberal Party
Status in legislatureMajority
Opposition partyConservative Party
Opposition leaders
History
Election1868 general election
Outgoing election1874 general election
Legislature terms
PredecessorThird Derby–Disraeli ministry
SuccessorSecond Disraeli ministry

The Conservative government under Benjamin Disraeli had been defeated at the 1868 general election, so in December 1868 the victorious William Gladstone formed his first government. He introduced reforms in the British Army (including the abolition of the purchase system), the legal system (establishing the Supreme Court of Judicature) and the Civil Service, and disestablished the Church of Ireland. In foreign affairs he pursued a peaceful policy. His ministry was defeated in the 1874 election, whereupon Disraeli formed a ministry and Gladstone retired as Leader of the Liberal Party.[1]

  1. ^ C. Cook and B. Keith, British Historical Facts 1830–1900