Disraeli, Benjamin, earl of Beaconsfield

Disraeli, Benjamin, earl of Beaconsfield
born Dec. 21, 1804, London, Eng.
died April 19, 1881, London

British politician and author who was twice prime minister (1868, 1874–80).

Of Italian-Jewish descent, he was baptized a Christian as a child, which enabled his future career, because until 1858, practitioners of Judaism were excluded from Parliament. He first made his mark as a writer with Vivian Grey (1826–27); later novels included Coningsby (1844) and Sybil (1845). He was elected to Parliament as a Conservative in 1837. In 1845 he made a series of brilliant speeches against Sir Robert Peel's decision to repeal the Corn Laws, which helped him to become leader of the Conservatives. He served three stints as chancellor of the Exchequer (1852, 1858–59, 1865–68) and played a prominent role in passing the Reform Bill of 1867. He was prime minister briefly in 1868, then returned in his second ministry (1874–80) to promote social reform. An advocate of a strong foreign policy, he secured a triumph for imperial prestige with his acquisition of Suez Canal shares and won concessions for England at the Congress of Berlin. A trusted friend of Queen Victoria, he introduced a bill conferring on her the title Empress of India. After the Conservatives were defeated in 1880, he kept the party leadership and finished his political novel Endymion (1880).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • DISRAELI, BENJAMIN, EARL OF BEACONSFIELD — (1804–1881), British statesman and novelist. His father, the historian and essayist …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Disraeli, Benjamin, Earl of Beaconsfield — (1804–1881)    A politician, statesman, and Conservative prime minister, Benjamin Disraeli was a commanding figure of British imperialism. The term imperialism was invented in its modern sense to describe indeed to condemn his foreign and… …   Encyclopedia of the Age of Imperialism, 1800–1914

  • Disraeli, Benjamin, Earl of Beaconsfield — (1804–81)    Statesman and author. Benjamin Disraeli was the most exotic figure ever to reach the summit of British politics. A debt ridden young Jew of the Anglican faith, regarded as a combination of literary poseur, social climber and… …   Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament

  • Disraeli, Benjamin, Earl Of Beaconsfield, Viscount Hughenden Of Hughenden — ▪ prime minister of United Kingdom Introduction byname  Dizzy  born December 21, 1804, London, England died April 19, 1881, London  British statesman (Parliament) and novelist who was twice prime minister (1868, 1874–80) and who provided the… …   Universalium

  • Benjamin Disraeli, 1. Earl of Beaconsfield — Benjamin Disraeli (* 21. Dezember 1804 in London; † 19. April 1881 in Mayfair), seit 1876 1. Earl of Beaconsfield, war ein erfolgreicher Romanschriftsteller und zweifach britischer Premierminister. Benjamin Disraeli Inhaltsverzeichnis …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Earl of Beaconsfield — The title Earl of Beaconsfield in the peerage of the United Kingdom was created in 1876 for Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, a favourite of Queen Victoria. Victoria favoured Disraeli s Tory policies over those of his Liberal rival, William Ewart …   Wikipedia

  • Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of — (1804 1881)    Statesman and novelist, was the s. of Isaac D. (q.v.). Belonging to a Jewish family settled first in Spain, whence in the 15th century they migrated to Italy, he was b. in London in 1804 and privately ed. His f. destined him for… …   Short biographical dictionary of English literature

  • Disraeli, Benjamin — (1804 81)    English statesman and novelist. His father, Isaac d lsraeli, quarrelled with the London Sephardi community and had his children baptized. Disraeli was already an estab lished novelist when he was elected to parliament in 1837 as a… …   Dictionary of Jewish Biography

  • Disraeli,Benjamin — Dis·rae·li (dĭz rāʹlē), Benjamin. First Earl of Beaconsfield. Known as “Dizzy.” 1804 1881. British politician and novelist. He served as prime minister (1868 and 1874 1880) and was instrumental in extending the power and scope of the British… …   Universalium

  • Benjamin Disraeli — Disraeli redirects here. For other uses, see Disraeli (disambiguation). The Right Honourable The Earl of Beaconsfield KG PC FRS …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”