1852 United Kingdom general election
The 1852 United Kingdom general election was a watershed in the formation of the modern political parties of Britain. Following 1852, the Tory/Conservative party became, more completely, the party of the rural aristocracy, while the Whig/Liberal party became the party of the rising urban bourgeoisie in Britain. The results of the election were extremely close in terms of the numbers of seats won by the two main parties.
Image: Frederick Richard Say (1805 1868) Edward Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby NPG 1806 National Portrait Gallery
Image: John Russell, 1st Earl Russell by Sir Francis Grant detail
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby,, known as Lord Stanley from 1834 to 1851, was a British statesman and Conservative politician who served three times as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. To date, he is the longest-serving leader of the Conservative Party. He is one of only four British prime ministers to have three or more separate periods in office. However, his ministries each lasted less than two years and totalled three years and 280 days. Derby introduced the state education system in Ireland, and reformed Parliament.
Lord Derby in 1865
Lord Stanley in 1844 by Frederick Richard Say
1852 illustration of Derby
Derby in 1861