Prime Ministers During Victoria's Reign
Viscount Melbourne
William Lamb
William Lamb
1835-1841
Whig Prime Minister and a mentor of the young Queen Victoria
Sir Robert Peel
1841-1846
Conservative, introduced Mines Act 1842, Factory Act 1844, Railway Regulation Act 1844, and repealed Corn Laws after Irish Potato Famine. Previously, as Home Secretary, he created the modern Police Force
Lord John Russell
1846-1852
Whig. Introduced Education Act 1847
Earl of Derby
Edward Smith-Stanley
Edward Smith-Stanley
1852
Short lived Conservative Prime Minister whose government collapsed following Budget defeat.
Earl of Aberdeen
George Hamilton-Gordon
George Hamilton-Gordon
1852-1855
Only Peelite Prime Minister who led the country into the Crimean War, which proved to be unpopular and he had to resign.
Viscount Palmerston
Henry John Temple
Henry John Temple
1855-1855
A Whig who had to deal with the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and introduced the India Bill
Earl of Derby
Edward Smith-Stanley
Edward Smith-Stanley
1858-1859
Conservative who passed the Government of India Act 1858, transferring ownership of the East India Company to the Crown and the Jews Relief Act, allowing Jews to become MPs.
Viscount Palmerston
Henry John Temple
Henry John Temple
1859-1865
First PM of the Liberal Party he founded. Big problems he handled included the American Civil War and the Lancashire Cotton Famine.
Earl Russell
John Russell
John Russell
1865-1866
Liberal who attempted to introduce a further Reform Bill, but was opposed by his Cabinet.
Earl of Derby
Edward Smith-Stanley
Edward Smith-Stanley
1866-1868
Introduced the Reform Act 1867. He is considered by some to be the father of the modern Conservative Party.
Benjamin Disraeli
1868
The only Jewish Prime Minister, a Conservative.
William Ewart Gladstone
1868-1874
Introduced reforms to the British Army, Civil Service and local government. Introduced many other acts, but failed to prevent the Franco-Prussian war. Libera.l
Benjamin Disraeli
1874-1880
Introduced numerous Acts, including an act limiting the use of boys in chimney sweeping. Purchased shares in the Suez Canal. bestowed the title of Empress of India on Queen Victoria. Conservative.
William Ewart Gladstone
1880-1885
Liberal who presided over the First Boer War, who introduced numerous reform acts.
Marquess of Salisbury
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
1885-1886
Conservative leading a minority government.
William Ewart Gladstone
1886
Gladstone attempted tointroduce the Home Rule Bill for Ireland which split the Liberal Party resulting in dissolution of the government.
Marquess of Salisbury
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
1886-1892
Conservative opposed Irish Home Rule.
William Ewart Gladstone
1892-1894
Fourth term for this Liberal PM who presided over a minority government.
Earl of Rosebery
Archibold Primrose
Archibold Primrose
1894-1895
Unsuccessful Liberal PM who had plans for expanding the Royal Navy and caused disagreement in his Party. resigned.
Marquess of Salisbury
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
1895-1902
presided over Anglo-Zanzibar War and Second Boer War and introduced the Workmen's Compensation Act 1897