William E. Gladstone, UK (1809-1898)
British statesman and Prime Minister (1868-74, 1880-5, 1886, 1892-4), born in Liverpool, UK. He entered parliament in 1832 as a Conservative. In 1867 he became leader of the Liberal Party, and soon after served his first term as Prime Minister. He disestablished and disendowed the Irish Church and established a national education system (1870).
Frequently in office until his resignation in 1894, he succeeded in carrying out a scheme of electoral reform which went a long way towards universal male suffrage. In his last two ministries he introduced bills for Irish Home Rule, but both were defeated.