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Date |
Event(s) |
| 1 | 1841 | - Sir Robert Peel (2nd term) [Conservative] Mines Act 1842; Factory Act 1844; repeal of the Corn Laws (triggered by the Irish potato famine);
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| 2 | 1846 | - The Lord John Russell (1st term) (afterwards PM as Earl Russell) [Whig] Education Act 1847; Australian Colonies Act 1850; improved the Poor Law.
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| 3 | 1852 | - The Earl of Derby (1st term) [Conservative] Government collapsed when his Chancellor's Budget was defeated.
- The Earl of Aberdeen [Peelite] Entered the country into the Crimean War; resigned due to the formation of an enquiry into the conduct of the war.
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| 4 | 1855 | - The Viscount Palmerston (1st term) [Whig] Responded to the Indian mutiny of 1857; introduced the India Bill 1858.
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| 5 | 1858 | - The Earl of Derby (2nd term) [Conservative] India Bill 1858, transferring ownership of the East India Company to the Crown; Jews Relief Act, allowing Jews to become MPs.
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| 6 | 1859 | - The Viscount Palmerston (2nd term) [Liberal] Between periods in office he founded the Liberal Party; died in office.
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| 7 | 1865 | - The Earl Russell (2nd term) (previously PM as Lord John Russell) [Liberal] attempted to introduce a further Reform Bill, but was opposed by his Cabinet.
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| 8 | 1866 | - The Earl of Derby (3rd term) [Conservative] Reform Act 1867; considered to be the father of the modern Conservative Party.
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| 9 | 1868 | - Benjamin Disraeli (1st term) [Conservative] The UK's first and, as of 2006, only, Prime Minister from Jewish ancestry; dissolved Parliament as the Conservatives did not have a majority.
- William Ewart Gladstone (1st term) [Liberal] Introduced reforms to the British Army, Civil Service and local government; made peacetime flogging illegal; Ballot Act 1872; failed to prevent the Franco-Prussian War.
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| 10 | 1874 | - Benjamin Disraeli (2nd term) (from 1876 as Earl of Beaconsfield) [Conservative] Various reforms including the Climbing Boys Act 1875, the Public Health Act 1875 and the Employers and Workmen Act 1878; Congress of Berlin; breaking up of the League of the Three Emperors.
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| 11 | 1880 | - William Ewart Gladstone (2nd term) [Liberal] First Boer War; Irish Coercion Act; Redistribution of Seats Act; failure to rescue General Gordon in Khartoum, Sudan.
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| 12 | 1885 | - The Marquess of Salisbury (1st term) [Conservative] Legislation providing for housing the working class.
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| 13 | 1886 | - William Ewart Gladstone (3rd term) [Liberal] First introduction of the Home Rule Bill for Ireland, which split the Liberal Party, resulting in the end of Gladstone's government.
- The Marquess of Salisbury (2nd term) [Conservative] Opposed Irish home rule; Local Government Act 1888; Partition of Africa; Free Education Act 1891; creation of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
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| 14 | 1892 | - William Ewart Gladstone (4th term) [Liberal] Reintroduction of the Home Rule Bill, which was passed by the House of Commons but rejected by the House of Lords leading to his resignation.
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| 15 | 1894 | - The Earl of Rosebery [Liberal] Imperialist; plans for expanding the Royal Navy caused disagreement within the Liberal Party; resigned following a vote of censure over military supplies.
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| 16 | 1895 | - The Marquess of Salisbury (3rd term) [Conservative] Workmen's Compensation Act 1897; Second Boer War.
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| 17 | 1901 | |
| 18 | 1902 | - Arthur Balfour [Conservative] Had poor relations with Edward VII; his cabinet was split over free trade; establishment of the Committee of Imperial Defence.
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