Herbert Gladstone, the fourth son of William
Gladstone, was born in 1854. After being educated at Eton
and University College, Oxford, Gladstone
became a history lecturer at Oxford University.
In the 1880 General Election Gladstone was
elected as Liberal MP for Leeds.
In the House of Commons Gladstone, a member
of the Temperance Society, advocated
reform of the alcohol trade and the abolition of the powers of the
House of Lords.
After entering the House of Commons Gladstone
worked as his father's unpaid Parliamentary Secretary. The following
year William Gladstone appointed his
son as Lord of the Treasury (1881-85). This was followed by periods
as Deputy Commissioner of Works (1885-86), Financial Secretary at
the War Office (1886), Under Secretary to the Home Office (1892-94),
Commissioner of Works (1894-95) and Chief Whip (1899-1905).
In the government formed by Herbert Asquith
following the 1910 General Election, Gladstone
became Home Secretary. Created Viscount Gladstone in December, 1910,
he became an important figure in the struggle with the House
of Lords over its reluctance to pass the legislation of the Liberal
government.
During he First World War Gladstone served as
Governor-General of South Africa and head of the War Refugees Association.
Herbert Gladstone died on 6th March, 1930.
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