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 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
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 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
June 1866 – February 1868 OfficeNameTermFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of LordsEdward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of DerbyJune 1866 – February 1868Lord ChancellorFrederic Thesiger, 1st Baron ChelmsfordJune 1866 – February 1868Lord President of the CouncilRichard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and ChandosJune 1866 – March 1867John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of MarlboroughMarch 1867 – February 1868Lord Privy SealJames Howard Harris, 3rd Earl of MalmesburyJune 1866 – February 1868Home SecretarySpencer Horatio WalpoleJune 1866 – May 1867Gathorne HardyMay 1867 – February 1868Foreign SecretaryEdward Stanley, Lord StanleyJune 1866 – February 1868Secretary of State for the ColoniesHenry Herbert, 4th Earl of CarnarvonJune 1866 – March 1867Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and ChandosMarch 1867 – February 1868Secretary of State for WarJonathan PeelJune 1866 – March 1867Sir John Pakington, 1st BaronetMarch 1867 – February 1868First Lord of the AdmiraltySir John Pakington, 1st BaronetJune 1866 – March 1867Henry Thomas Lowry-CorryMarch 1867 – February 1868Secretary of State for IndiaRobert Gascoyne-Cecil, Viscount CranborneJune 1866 – March 1867Sir Stafford Northcote, 8th BaronetMarch 1867 – February 1868Chancellor of the ExchequerLeader of the House of CommonsBenjamin DisraeliJune 1866 – February 1868President of the Board of TradeSir Stafford Northcote, 8th BaronetJune 1866 – March 1867Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of RichmondMarch 1867 – February 1868President of the Poor Law BoardGathorne HardyJune 1866 – May 1867incumbent not in the cabinetFirst Commissioner of WorksLord John MannersJune 1866 – February 1868Chief Secretary for IrelandRichard Bourke, Baron NaasJune 1866 – February 1868Minister without PortfolioSpencer Horatio WalpoleMay 1867 – February 1868
Notes This Cabinet of Derby's is the first for which a complete collection of photographs exists of its members.
Changes 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 OfficeNameTermFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of CommonsBenjamin DisraeliFebruary–December 1868Lord ChancellorHugh Cairns, 1st Baron CairnsFebruary–December 1868Lord President of the CouncilJohn Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of MarlboroughFebruary–December 1868Lord Privy SealLeader of the House of LordsJames Howard Harris, 3rd Earl of MalmesburyFebruary–December 1868Home SecretaryGathorne HardyFebruary–December 1868Foreign SecretaryEdward Stanley, Lord StanleyFebruary–December 1868Secretary of State for the ColoniesRichard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and ChandosFebruary–December 1868Secretary of State for WarSir John Pakington, 1st BaronetFebruary–December 1868Secretary of State for IndiaSir Stafford Northcote, 8th BaronetFebruary–December 1868Chancellor of the ExchequerGeorge Ward HuntFebruary–December 1868First Lord of the AdmiraltyHenry Thomas Lowry-CorryFebruary–December 1868President of the Board of TradeCharles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of RichmondFebruary–December 1868First Commissioner of WorksLord John MannersFebruary–December 1868Chief Secretary for IrelandRichard Bourke, 6th Earl of MayoFebruary–September 1868 successor not in the cabinet
Changes September 1868: The Earl of Mayo leaves the cabinet to become Viceroy of India. His successor is not in the cabinet.
List of ministers Cabinet members are listed in bold face.