Third Derby–Disraeli ministry


The Conservative government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland that began in 1866 and ended in 1868 was led by Lord Derby in the House of Lords and Benjamin Disraeli in the House of Commons.

History

became Prime Minister for the third time, after the fall of Lord Russell's Liberal government, in 1866. His Chancellor of the Exchequer, Benjamin Disraeli, was instrumental in passing the Second Reform Act in 1867.
After the parliamentary session, which produced the Second Reform Bill, Disraeli's eventual assumption of the leadership of the Conservative Party was all but assured. While he was still opposed by elements of the party's right wing, his role in securing the passage of the bill, in particular his showing against William Ewart Gladstone, had won him the adulation of a wide base of the parliamentary party. The only unknown was the health of the Earl of Derby, still very much Prime Minister, Conservative leader, and Disraeli's colleague.
Derby's health, however, had been in decline for some time, and he finally resigned in February and advised Queen Victoria to send for Disraeli. Thus on 27 February 1868 Benjamin Disraeli became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He reportedly said of the event later, "I have climbed to the top of the greasy pole." However, the Conservatives were still a minority in the House of Commons, and the enaction of the Reform Bill required the calling of new election. Disraeli's term as Prime Minister would therefore be fairly short, unless the Conservatives managed to win the general election.
Although all the cabinet posts were at his disposal, Disraeli made only a few changes: he replaced Lord Chelmsford as Lord Chancellor with Lord Cairns, and brought in George Ward Hunt as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Disraeli and Chelmsford had never got on, and in Disraeli's view, Cairns was a far stronger minister. He also chose the Earl of Malmesbury to succeed Derby as Leader in the House of Lords.

The Irish Church

The principal issue of the 1868 parliamentary session was the Irish Question, manifested this time in the debate over the Anglican Church of Ireland.

Fate

The Conservatives were defeated by the Liberals in the general election of 1868, and the new Liberal leader William Ewart Gladstone formed his first government.

Cabinets

June 1866 – February 1868

Changes

Changes

Cabinet members are listed in bold face.
OfficeNameDate
Prime Minister
First Lord of the Treasury		The Earl of Derby28 June 186625 February 1868
Prime Minister
First Lord of the Treasury		Benjamin Disraeli27 February 18681 December 1868
Chancellor of the ExchequerBenjamin Disraeli6 July 1866
Chancellor of the ExchequerGeorge Ward Hunt29 February 1868
Parliamentary Secretary to the TreasuryThomas Edward Taylor14 July 1866
Parliamentary Secretary to the TreasuryGerard Noel11 November 1868
Financial Secretary to the TreasuryGeorge Ward Hunt14 July 1866
Financial Secretary to the TreasuryGeorge Sclater-Booth4 March 1868
Junior Lords of the TreasuryGerard Noel12 July 18662 November 1868
Junior Lords of the TreasurySir Graham Graham-Montgomery12 July 18661 December 1868
Junior Lords of the TreasuryHenry Whitmore12 July 18661 December 1868
Junior Lords of the TreasuryLord Claud Hamilton2 November 18681 December 1868
Lord ChancellorThe Lord Chelmsford6 July 1866
Lord ChancellorThe Lord Cairns29 February 1868
Lord President of the CouncilThe Duke of Buckingham and Chandos6 July 1866
Lord President of the CouncilThe Duke of Marlborough8 March 1867
Lord Privy SealThe Earl of Malmesbury6 July 1866
Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentSpencer Horatio Walpole6 July 1866
Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentGathorne Hardy17 May 1867
Under-Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentThe Earl Belmore10 July 1866
Under-Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentSir James Fergusson1 August 1867
Under-Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentSir Michael Hicks Beach10 August 1868
Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsLord Stanley6 July 1866
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsEdward Egerton6 July 1866
Secretary of State for WarJonathan Peel6 July 1866
Secretary of State for WarSir John Pakington8 March 1867
Under-Secretary of State for WarThe Earl of Longford7 July 1866
Surveyor-General of the Ordnancevacant—
Secretary of State for the ColoniesThe Earl of Carnarvon6 July 1866
Secretary of State for the ColoniesThe Duke of Buckingham and Chandos8 March 1867
Under-Secretary of State for the ColoniesCharles Adderley6 July 1866
Secretary of State for IndiaViscount Cranborne6 July 1866
Secretary of State for IndiaSir Stafford Northcote8 March 1867
Under-Secretary of State for IndiaSir James Fergusson6 July 1866
Under-Secretary of State for IndiaThe Lord Clinton31 July 1867
First Lord of the AdmiraltySir John Pakington12 July 1866
First Lord of the AdmiraltyHenry Lowry-Corry8 March 1867
First Secretary of the AdmiraltyLord Henry Lennox16 July 1866
Civil Lord of the AdmiraltyCharles du Cane12 July 1866
Civil Lord of the AdmiraltyFrederick Stanley29 August 1868
Chief Secretary for IrelandLord Naas10 July 1866
Chief Secretary for IrelandJohn Wilson-Patten29 September 1868
Lord Lieutenant of IrelandThe Marquess of Abercorn13 July 1866
President of the Poor Law BoardGathorne Hardy12 July 1866
President of the Poor Law BoardThe Earl of Devon21 May 1867
Parliamentary Secretary to the Poor Law BoardRalph Earle12 July 1866
Parliamentary Secretary to the Poor Law BoardGeorge Sclater-Booth1 March 1867
Parliamentary Secretary to the Poor Law BoardSir Michael Hicks-Beach28 February 1868
Minister without PortfolioSpencer Horatio Walpole17 May 18671 December 1868
President of the Board of TradeSir Stafford Northcote6 July 1866
President of the Board of TradeThe Duke of Richmond8 March 1867
Vice-President of the Board of TradeStephen Cave10 July 1866
First Commissioner of WorksLord John Manners6 July 1866
Vice-President of the Committee on EducationHenry Lowry-Corry12 July 1866
Vice-President of the Committee on EducationLord Robert Montagu19 March 1867
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterThe Earl of Devon10 July 1866
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterJohn Wilson-Patten26 June 1867
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterThomas Edward Taylor7 November 1868
Paymaster-GeneralStephen Cave10 July 1866
Postmaster-GeneralThe Duke of Montrose19 July 1866
Attorney GeneralSir Hugh Cairns10 July 1866
Attorney GeneralSir John Rolt29 October 1866
Attorney GeneralSir John Burgess Karslake18 July 1867
Solicitor GeneralSir William Bovill10 July 1866
Solicitor GeneralSir John Burgess Karslake29 November 1866
Solicitor GeneralSir Charles Hasper Selwyn18 July 1867
Solicitor GeneralSir William Brett10 February 1868
Solicitor GeneralSir Richard Baggallay16 September 1868
Judge Advocate GeneralJohn Mowbray12 July 1866
Lord AdvocateGeorge Patton12 July 1866
Lord AdvocateEdward Gordon28 February 1867
Solicitor General for ScotlandEdward Gordon12 July 1866
Solicitor General for ScotlandJohn Millar6 March 1867
Attorney General for IrelandJohn Edward Walsh25 July 1866
Attorney General for IrelandMichael Morris1 November 1866
Attorney General for IrelandHedges Eyre Chatterton1867
Attorney General for IrelandRobert Warren1867
Attorney General for IrelandJohn Thomas Ball1868
Solicitor General for IrelandMichael Morris3 August 1866
Solicitor General for IrelandHedges Eyre Chatterton8 November 1866
Solicitor General for IrelandRobert Warren1867
Solicitor General for IrelandMichael Harrison1867
Solicitor General for IrelandJohn Thomas Ball1868
Solicitor General for IrelandHenry Ormsby1868
Lord Steward of the HouseholdThe Duke of Marlborough10 July 1866
Lord Steward of the HouseholdThe Earl of Tankerville19 March 1867
Lord Chamberlain of the HouseholdThe Earl of Bradford10 July 1866
Vice-Chamberlain of the HouseholdLord Claud Hamilton10 July 1866
Treasurer of the HouseholdLord Burghley10 July 1866
Treasurer of the HouseholdPercy Egerton Herbert27 February 1867
Comptroller of the HouseholdViscount Royston10 July 1866
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-ArmsThe Earl of Tankerville10 July 1866
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-ArmsThe Marquess of Exeter20 March 1867
Captain of the Yeomen of the GuardThe Earl Cadogan10 July 1866
Master of the BuckhoundsThe Lord Colville of Culross10 July 1866
Chief Equerry and Clerk MarshalLord Alfred Paget1 July 1859
Mistress of the RobesThe Duchess of Wellington25 April 1861
Lords in WaitingThe Viscount Strathallan13 July 18661 December 1868
Lords in WaitingThe Viscount Hawarden13 July 18661 December 1868
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Bagot13 July 18661 December 1868
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Polwarth13 July 186616 August 1867
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Crofton13 July 18661 December 1868
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Skelmersdale13 July 18661 December 1868
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Raglan13 July 18661 December 1868
Lords in WaitingThe Earl of Haddington7 September 18671 December 1868

;Notes