Third Gladstone ministry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Third Gladstone ministry
February–July 1886
Gladstone (1886)
Date formed	1 February 1886 (1886-02-01)
Date dissolved	20 July 1886 (1886-07-20)
People and organisations
Monarch	Victoria
Prime Minister	William Gladstone
Total no. of members	68 appointments
Member party	Liberal Party
Status in legislature	Minority
Opposition party	Conservative Party
Opposition leaders	Sir Michael Hicks Beach in the House of Commons Lord Salisbury in the House of Lords
History
Election(s)	1885 general election
Outgoing election	1886 general election
Legislature term(s)	23rd UK Parliament lost a vote of confidence
Predecessor	First Salisbury ministry
Successor	Second Salisbury ministry

The third Gladstone ministry was a very short period when William Gladstone was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He was part of the Liberal Party. Queen Victoria asked him to be Prime Minister again. This government lasted only five months, from February to July 1886.

How the Government Was Formed

Gladstone speaking about Irish Home Rule in 1886.

In February 1886, the Liberal Party, led by William Gladstone, came into power. They won with help from Irish politicians. They defeated the Conservative government, which was led by Lord Salisbury. This new government became one of the shortest in British history.

Gladstone was 76 years old when he became Prime Minister for the third time. Many important people joined his team:

• Sir William Vernon Harcourt became the person in charge of the country's money, called the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
• Hugh Childers became the Home Secretary, looking after law and order inside the country.
• The Earl of Rosebery, who would later become Prime Minister, was the Foreign Secretary. He handled relationships with other countries.
• Sir Farrer Herschell became the Lord Chancellor, a top legal role.
• Lord Granville became the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dealing with Britain's colonies around the world.
• Lord Kimberley was the Secretary of State for India.
• Joseph Chamberlain was put in charge of local government.
• Henry Campbell-Bannerman, another future Prime Minister, became the Secretary of State for War.
• John Morley got his first government job as the main official for Ireland, called the Chief Secretary for Ireland.

The Big Idea: Irish Home Rule

This government is mostly remembered for Gladstone's plan to give Ireland more control over its own affairs. This idea was called the Home Rule Bill for Ireland. It meant Ireland would have its own parliament for local matters, but still be part of the United Kingdom.

However, many people in Britain disagreed with this plan. On June 8, the bill was voted on and lost by a small number of votes. A lot of Liberal Members of Parliament (MPs) even voted against their own party's plan.

Because the bill failed, Parliament was closed down on June 26. The issue of Irish Home Rule caused a big split in the Liberal Party. Some members, like Lord Hartington and Joseph Chamberlain, left the party. They formed a new group called the Liberal Unionists. They did not want Ireland to have Home Rule.

What Happened Next

After the Home Rule Bill failed, a new election was held in July 1886. The Conservative Party, with the help of the new Liberal Unionists, won the election. Lord Salisbury became Prime Minister again.

The Liberal Party did not return to power until 1892. That's when William Gladstone became Prime Minister for a fourth time.

Key People in the Government

This section lists the main ministers in Gladstone's government from February to August 1886.

Changes in the Cabinet

In April 1886, James Stansfeld took over from Joseph Chamberlain at the Local Government Board. George Otto Trevelyan also left the Cabinet around this time.