William Ewart Gladstone Biography and Timeline — Page 3

Peelites

Lord Palmerston forms a new mixed Government with Radicals included, and Gladstone again joins the Government as Chancellor of the Exchequer (with most of the other remaining Peelites) to become part of the new Liberal Party

Budget

Gladstones budget is introduced with the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty between Britain and France that would reduce tariffs between the two countries.

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Budget

Some of the duties Gladstone intended to abolish in 1860 were the duties on paper, a controversial policy because the duties had traditionally inflated the costs of publishing and thus hindered the dissemination of radical working-class ideas.

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Budget

The Bill to abolish duties on paper narrowly passed Commons but was rejected by the House of Lords. As no money bill had been rejected by Lords for over two hundred years, a furore arose over this vote.

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Budget

The budget "marked the final adoption of the Free Trade principle, that taxation should be levied for Revenue purposes alone, and that every protective, differential, or discriminating duty...should be dislodged".

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Budget

The budget reduces the number of duties to 48, with 15 duties constituting the majority of the revenue but to finance these reductions in indirect taxation, the income tax, instead of being abolished, is raised to 10d. for incomes above pounds 150 and at 7d.

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Budget

The next year, Gladstone included the abolition of paper duties in a consolidated Finance Bill (the first ever) to force the Lords to accept it, and accept it they did.

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Budget

for incomes above pounds 100.

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Income Tax

The budget reduces the number of duties to 48, with 15 duties constituting the majority of the revenue but to finance these reductions in indirect taxation, the income tax, instead of being abolished, is raised to 10d. for incomes above pounds 150 and at 7d. for incomes above pounds 100

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Budget

The Budget is rejected by the Lords because they oppose the abolition of paper duties. Tariffs on 400 articles & paper are removed. National debt interest is reduced by 2 million pounds. Direct tax is raised from 9d to 10d, due to extra defence spending

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Budget

The Lords refuse to abolish paper duties & reject the budget. The Cabinet decides to refer the Budget to the Commons Committee of Privileges

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1860-1865

Post Office Savings Bank

The Post Office Savings Bank opens, extending secure savings facilities to ordinary households.

Role range: 1859-1866

Budget

Approval of the budget by the Lords becomes common practice. Abolition of paper duty is included in the budget & passed by the Lords

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Constitution of Great Britain

Approval of the budget by the Lords becomes common practice

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Income Tax

Income tax was reduced to ninepence in 1861; in 1863 to sevenpence; in 1864 to fivepence; and in 1865 to fourpence

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

PAC

Founds the Public Accounts Committee, part of his reform for financial institutions

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Post Office Savings Bank

Creates the Post Office Savings Bank

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Political Support at Newcastle

Gladstone makes a speech in support of the independence of the Confederate States of America in the American Civil War, claiming that Jefferson Davis had "made a nation"

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

London Underground

Opens the London Underground

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Income Tax

Income tax was reduced to ninepence (pounds 00s9d) in 1861; in 1863 to sevenpence; in 1864 to fivepence; and in 1865 to fourpence

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Franchise

Supports a wider franchise despite warnings by Palmerston not to commit the Government

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Franchise

Supports a wider franchise to include the northern towns

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Reform of Electoral System

Supports a wider franchise to include the northern towns. Supports a wider franchise despite warnings by Palmerston not to commit the Government

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Election

Gladstones support for electoral reform and disestablishment of the Anglican Church in Ireland alienates him from his constituents in his Oxford University seat, and he loses it in the 1865 general election

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Oxford University

Gladstones support for electoral reform and disestablishment of the Anglican Church in Ireland alienates him from his constituents in his Oxford University seat, and he loses it in the 1865 general election

Role range: 1859-1865 – 1859-1865

Election

Stands as a candidate in South Lancashire, where he is elected its third Member of Parliament (South Lancashire at this time elected three MPs)

Role range: 1865-1866

Election

Leads the Liberals to election victory but Palmerston dies before the first Cabinet

Role range: 1865-1866

Leader of House of Commons

Leads the Liberals to election victory but Palmerston dies before the first Cabinet

Role range: 1865-1866

Franchise

Earl Russell forms his second ministry, Russell & Gladstone (now the senior Liberal in the House of Commons) attempt to pass a reform bill, which is defeated in the House of Commons because of the refusal of the "Adullamite" Whigs, led by Robert Lowe, to support it

Reform of Church Governance

Announces he can no longer support the establishment of the Irish Anglican Church

Franchise

Introduces a franchise for occupiers in boroughs & occupiers in counties

Role range: 1865-1866 – 1865-1866

Reform of Electoral System

Introduces a franchise for occupiers in boroughs & occupiers in counties. Gladstones proposals are based on rents rather than rates

Role range: 1865-1866 – 1865-1866

Franchise

Informs Liverpool the Government is staking its life on the Franchise Bill

Role range: 1865-1866 – 1865-1866

Reform of Electoral System

Informs Liverpool the Government is staking its life on the Franchise Bill

Role range: 1865-1866 – 1865-1866

Franchise

1st test of the Franchise Bill, the Government wins the 1st reading in the Commons

Role range: 1865-1866 – 1865-1866

Reform of Parliament

1st test of the Franchise Bill, the Government wins the 1st reading in the Commons

Role range: 1865-1866 – 1865-1866

Reform of Parliament

The Government has a majority of 5 & many in cabinet wish to dissolve Parliament

Role range: 1865-1866 – 1865-1866

Bank Charter Act

Suspends the Bank Charter Act & raises the bank rate to 10%, causes panic & depression

Role range: 1865-1866 – 1865-1866

Crisis

Suspends the Bank Charter Act & raises the bank rate to 10%, causes panic & depression

Role range: 1865-1866 – 1865-1866

Crisis

The Bank of Overend & Gurney fails

Role range: 1865-1866 – 1865-1866