Third Derby–Disraeli ministry

Government of the United Kingdom

Third Derby–Disraeli ministry

* 1866–1868
* 1868

Date formed| 28 June 1866 (1866-06-28)
Date dissolved| 1 December 1868 (1868-12-01)
People and organisations
Monarch| Victoria
Prime Minister|

* Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby (1866–1868)
* Benjamin Disraeli (1868)

Chancellor of the Exchequer| Benjamin Disraeli (1866–1868)
Total no. of members| 105 appointments
Member party| Conservative Party
Status in legislature|

Minority
dependent on Adullamite support

Opposition party| Liberal Party
Opposition leaders|

* William Ewart Gladstone
in the House of Commons

* Lord Russell (1866–1868)
* Lord Granville (1868)
in the House of Lords

History
Outgoing election| 1868 general election
Legislature terms| 19th UK Parliament
Predecessor| Second Russell ministry
Successor| First Gladstone ministry

The Conservative government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland that began in 1866 and ended in 1868 was led by Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby in the House of Lords and Benjamin Disraeli in the House of Commons.

## History

[edit]

Lord Derby became prime minister for the third time, after the fall of John Russell, 1st Earl Russell's Liberal government, in 1866. His Chancellor of the Exchequer, Benjamin Disraeli, was instrumental in passing the Second Reform Act in 1867.

After the parliamentary session, which produced the Second Reform Bill, Disraeli's eventual assumption of the leadership of the Conservative Party was all but assured. While he was still opposed by elements of the party's right wing (most notably Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, himself a future prime minister), his role in securing the passage of the bill, in particular his showing against William Ewart Gladstone, had won him the adulation of a wide base of the parliamentary party. The only unknown was the health of the Earl of Derby, still very much prime minister, Conservative leader, and Disraeli's colleague.

Derby's health, however, had been in decline for some time, and he finally resigned in February and advised Queen Victoria to send for Disraeli. Thus on 27 February 1868 Benjamin Disraeli became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He reportedly said of the event later, "I have climbed to the top of the greasy pole." However, the Conservatives were still a minority in the House of Commons, and the enaction of the Reform Bill required the calling of new election. Disraeli's term as prime minister would therefore be fairly short, unless the Conservatives managed to win the general election.

Although all the cabinet posts were at his disposal, Disraeli made only a few changes: he replaced Lord Chelmsford as Lord Chancellor with Lord Cairns, and brought in George Ward Hunt as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Disraeli and Chelmsford had never got on, and in Disraeli's view, Cairns was a far stronger minister. He also chose the Earl of Malmesbury to succeed Derby as Leader in the House of Lords.

### The Irish Church

[edit]

Further information: Irish Church Act 1869

The principal issue of the 1868 parliamentary session was the Irish question, manifested this time in the debate over the Anglican Church of Ireland.

### Fate

[edit]

The Conservatives were defeated by the Liberals in the general election of 1868, and the new Liberal leader William Ewart Gladstone formed his first government.

## Cabinets

[edit]

The Derby Cabinet of 1867 as painted by Henry Gales.

### June 1866 – February 1868

[edit]

Office | Name | Term

|
|

First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords | Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby | June 1866 – February 1868
Lord Chancellor | Frederic Thesiger, 1st Baron Chelmsford | June 1866 – February 1868
Lord President of the Council | Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos | June 1866 – March 1867
John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough | March 1867 – February 1868
Lord Privy Seal | James Howard Harris, 3rd Earl of Malmesbury | June 1866 – February 1868
Home Secretary | Spencer Horatio Walpole | June 1866 – May 1867
Gathorne Hardy | May 1867 – February 1868
Foreign Secretary | Edward Stanley, Lord Stanley | June 1866 – February 1868
Secretary of State for the Colonies | Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon | June 1866 – March 1867
Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos | March 1867 – February 1868
Secretary of State for War | Jonathan Peel | June 1866 – March 1867
Sir John Pakington, 1st Baronet | March 1867 – February 1868
First Lord of the Admiralty | Sir John Pakington, 1st Baronet | June 1866 – March 1867
Henry Thomas Lowry-Corry | March 1867 – February 1868
Secretary of State for India | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Viscount Cranborne | June 1866 – March 1867
Sir Stafford Northcote, 8th Baronet | March 1867 – February 1868
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Leader of the House of Commons | Benjamin Disraeli | June 1866 – February 1868
President of the Board of Trade | Sir Stafford Northcote, 8th Baronet | June 1866 – March 1867
Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond | March 1867 – February 1868
President of the Poor Law Board | Gathorne Hardy | June 1866 – May 1867
incumbent not in the cabinet
First Commissioner of Works | Lord John Manners | June 1866 – February 1868
Chief Secretary for Ireland | Richard Bourke, Baron Naas | June 1866 – February 1868
Minister without Portfolio | Spencer Horatio Walpole | May 1867 – February 1868

#### Notes

[edit]

* This Cabinet of Derby's is the first for which a complete collection of photographs exists of its members.

#### Changes

[edit]

* March 1867: Lord Carnarvon, Lord Cranborne, and General Peel resign from the cabinet over the Reform Bill. They are succeeded by the Duke of Buckingham, Sir Stafford Northcote, and Sir John Pakington, respectively. Taking their places were three new members of the cabinet: the Duke of Marlborough, the Duke of Richmond, and Henry Lowry-Corry.
* May 1867: Gathorne Hardy replaces Spencer Walpole as Home Secretary. Walpole remains in the cabinet as Minister without Portfolio. Hardy's replacement as President of the Poor Law Board is not in the cabinet.

### February 1868 – December 1868

[edit]

Office | Name | Term

|
|

First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons | Benjamin Disraeli | February–December 1868
Lord Chancellor | Hugh Cairns, 1st Baron Cairns | February–December 1868
Lord President of the Council | John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough | February–December 1868
Lord Privy Seal
Leader of the House of Lords | James Howard Harris, 3rd Earl of Malmesbury | February–December 1868
Home Secretary | Gathorne Hardy | February–December 1868
Foreign Secretary | Edward Stanley, Lord Stanley | February–December 1868
Secretary of State for the Colonies | Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos | February–December 1868
Secretary of State for War | Sir John Pakington, 1st Baronet | February–December 1868
Secretary of State for India | Sir Stafford Northcote, 8th Baronet | February–December 1868
Chancellor of the Exchequer | George Ward Hunt | February–December 1868
First Lord of the Admiralty | Henry Thomas Lowry-Corry | February–December 1868
President of the Board of Trade | Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond | February–December 1868
First Commissioner of Works | Lord John Manners | February–December 1868
Chief Secretary for Ireland | Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo | February–September 1868
| successor not in the cabinet

#### Changes

[edit]

* September 1868: The Earl of Mayo leaves the cabinet to become Viceroy of India. His successor is not in the cabinet.

## List of ministers

[edit]

Cabinet members are listed in bold face.

Office  | Name  | Date

|
|

Prime Minister
First Lord of the Treasury | Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby[a] | 28 June 1866 -
25 February 1868
Benjamin Disraeli[b] | 27 February 1868 -
1 December 1868
Chancellor of the Exchequer | Benjamin Disraeli[c] | 6 July 1866
George Ward Hunt | 29 February 1868
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | Thomas Edward Taylor | 14 July 1866
Gerard Noel | 11 November 1868
Financial Secretary to the Treasury | George Ward Hunt | 14 July 1866
George Sclater-Booth | 4 March 1868
Junior Lords of the Treasury | Gerard Noel | 12 July 1866 -
2 November 1868
Sir Graham Graham-Montgomery | 12 July 1866 -
1 December 1868
Henry Whitmore | 12 July 1866 -
1 December 1868
Lord Claud Hamilton | 2 November 1868 -
1 December 1868
Lord Chancellor | Frederic Thesiger, 1st Baron Chelmsford | 6 July 1866
Hugh Cairns, 1st Baron Cairns | 29 February 1868
Lord President of the Council | Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos | 6 July 1866
John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough | 8 March 1867
Lord Privy Seal | James Harris, 3rd Earl of Malmesbury[d] | 6 July 1866
Secretary of State for the Home Department | Spencer Horatio Walpole | 6 July 1866
Gathorne Hardy | 17 May 1867
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department | Somerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore | 10 July 1866
Sir James Fergusson, 6th Baronet | 1 August 1867
Sir Michael Hicks Beach, 9th Baronet | 10 August 1868
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Edward Stanley, Lord Stanley | 6 July 1866
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Edward Egerton | 6 July 1866
Secretary of State for War | Jonathan Peel | 6 July 1866
Sir John Pakington 1st Baronet | 8 March 1867
Under-Secretary of State for War | William Pakenham, 4th Earl of Longford | 7 July 1866
Surveyor-General of the Ordnance | vacant | —
Secretary of State for the Colonies | Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon | 6 July 1866
Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos | 8 March 1867
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies | Charles Adderley | 6 July 1866
Secretary of State for India | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Viscount Cranborne | 6 July 1866
Sir Stafford Northcote, 8th Baronet | 8 March 1867
Under-Secretary of State for India | Sir James Fergusson, 6th Baronet | 6 July 1866
Charles Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis, 20th Baron Clinton | 31 July 1867
First Lord of the Admiralty | Sir John Pakington 1st Baronet | 12 July 1866
Henry Lowry-Corry | 8 March 1867
First Secretary of the Admiralty | Lord Henry Lennox | 16 July 1866
Civil Lord of the Admiralty | Charles du Cane | 12 July 1866
Frederick Stanley | 29 August 1868
Chief Secretary for Ireland | Robert Bourke, 1st Baron Naas[e] | 10 July 1866
John Wilson-Patten | 29 September 1868
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland | James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Abercorn | 13 July 1866
President of the Poor Law Board | Gathorne Hardy | 12 July 1866
William Courtenay, 11th Earl of Devon | 21 May 1867
Parliamentary Secretary to the Poor Law Board | Ralph Earle | 12 July 1866
George Sclater-Booth | 1 March 1867
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, 9th Baronet | 28 February 1868
Minister without Portfolio | Spencer Horatio Walpole | 17 May 1867 -
1 December 1868
President of the Board of Trade | Sir Stafford Northcote, 8th Baronet | 6 July 1866
Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond | 8 March 1867
Vice-President of the Board of Trade | Stephen Cave[f] | 10 July 1866
First Commissioner of Works | Lord John Manners | 6 July 1866
Vice-President of the Committee on Education | Henry Lowry-Corry | 12 July 1866
Lord Robert Montagu | 19 March 1867
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | William Courtenay, 11th Earl of Devon | 10 July 1866
John Wilson-Patten | 26 June 1867
Thomas Edward Taylor | 7 November 1868
Paymaster General | Stephen Cave | 10 July 1866
Postmaster-General | James Graham, 4th Duke of Montrose | 19 July 1866
Attorney General | Sir Hugh Cairns | 10 July 1866
Sir John Rolt | 29 October 1866
Sir John Burgess Karslake | 18 July 1867
Solicitor General | Sir William Bovill | 10 July 1866
Sir John Burgess Karslake | 29 November 1866
Sir Charles Jasper Selwyn | 18 July 1867
Sir William Brett | 10 February 1868
Sir Richard Baggallay | 16 September 1868
Judge Advocate General | John Mowbray | 12 July 1866
Lord Advocate | George Patton | 12 July 1866
Edward Gordon | 28 February 1867
Solicitor General for Scotland | Edward Gordon | 12 July 1866
John Millar | 6 March 1867
Attorney General for Ireland | John Edward Walsh | 25 July 1866
Michael Morris | 1 November 1866
Hedges Eyre Chatterton | 1867
Robert Warren | 1867
John Thomas Ball | 1868
Solicitor General for Ireland | Michael Morris | 3 August 1866
Hedges Eyre Chatterton | 8 November 1866
Robert Warren | 1867
Michael Harrison | 1867
John Thomas Ball | 1868
Henry Ormsby | 1868
Lord Steward of the Household | John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough | 10 July 1866
Charles Bennet, 6th Earl of Tankerville | 19 March 1867
Lord Chamberlain of the Household | Orlando Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford | 10 July 1866
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Lord Claud Hamilton | 10 July 1866
Treasurer of the Household | William Cecil, Baron Burghley | 10 July 1866
Percy Egerton Herbert | 27 February 1867
Comptroller of the Household | Charles Yorke, Viscount Royston | 10 July 1866
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms | Charles Bennet, 6th Earl of Tankerville | 10 July 1866
William Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Exeter | 20 March 1867
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | Henry Cadogan, 4th Earl Cadogan | 10 July 1866
Master of the Buckhounds | Charles Colville, 1st Baron Colville of Culross | 10 July 1866
Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal | Lord Alfred Paget[g] | 1 July 1859
Mistress of the Robes | Elizabeth Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington[h] | 25 April 1861
Lords in Waiting | William Drummond, 7th Viscount Strathallan | 13 July 1866 -
1 December 1868
Cornwallis Maude, 4th Viscount Hawarden | 13 July 1866 -
1 December 1868
William Bagot, 3rd Baron Bagot | 13 July 1866 -
1 December 1868
Henry Hepburne-Scott, 7th Lord Polwarth | 13 July 1866 -
16 August 1867
Edward Crofton, 2nd Baron Crofton | 13 July 1866 -
1 December 1868
Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 2nd Baron Skelmersdale | 13 July 1866 -
1 December 1868
Richard Somerset, 2nd Baron Raglan | 13 July 1866 -
1 December 1868
George Baillie-Hamilton, 10th Earl of Haddington | 7 September 1867 -
1 December 1868

Notes

1. ^ Also Leader of the House of Lords.
2. ^ Also Leader of the House of Commons.
3. ^ Also Leader of the House of Commons.
4. ^ Also Leader of the House of Lords 27 February 1868 – 1 December 1868.
5. ^ Succeeded as the 7th Earl of Mayo in 1867.
6. ^ Office abolished 12 August 1867 and replaced with a Parliamentary Secretaryship.
7. ^ Continued in office; no longer a political appointment after 1866.
8. ^ Continued in office.

## References

[edit]

* Tout, T. F. (1910). An advanced history of Great Britain from the earliest times to the death of Edward VII. New York: Longmans, Green. pp. 740–741. OL 13991885M.
* C. Cook and B. Keith, British Historical Facts 1830–1900

Preceded by

Second Russell ministry

|  Government of the United Kingdom
1866–1868  | Succeeded by

First Gladstone ministry

|
|

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