Who were the ten British prime ministers of Queen Victoria’s reign? What were the highlights of their careers, and what did they achieve on behalf of the United Kingdom? Most importantly, what was the nature of their relationship with Queen Victoria herself?
Let us now step back into the heart of 19th-century Britain. In this article, we will attempt to discover a little more about Queen Victoria, learn more about her reign, and also find out the most fascinating details regarding the ten prime ministers who served her.
Queen Victoria and Her Prime Ministers
The reign of Queen Victoria spanned 63 years, seven months, and two days. Her rule was the second longest in British history, after Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled for nearly 71 years.
During her time on the throne, Queen Victoria accepted 19 resignations. However, she was served by only ten different prime ministers.
Firstly there was William Lamb, the man who became such a great friend of Queen Victoria that she granted him apartments at Windsor Castle and affectionately named him “Lord M.”
Secondly, there was Robert Peel, the man who famously founded the London Metropolitan Police. A little later there was William Gladstone, the man Queen Victoria despised to such an extent that she would not even invite him to sit down during their audiences. Later again, there was Benjamin Disraeli, a man who managed to flirt and charm his way into Queen Victoria’s confidence.
In between there were many others: Edward Smith-Stanley (Earl of Derby), George Hamilton (Earl of Aberdeen), Henry John Temple (Viscount Palmerston), Robert Gascoyne-Cecil (Marquess of Salisbury), and Archibald Primrose (Earl of Rosebery). All had the pleasure of serving both Queen and country at some point during the Victorian Era.
Each of these prime ministers came to power at different times during her life and reign, and therefore, they each fulfilled a very different role in accordance with her requirements, and that of the country. Furthermore, each of her prime ministers faced different challenges including wars, famines, nationwide poverty, pandemics, and scandals.
There was much to be celebrated. The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, the wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840, the opening of the London Underground in 1863, and the first Football Association Cup in 1872 — these are just a few of the wonderful events associated with this period. Some of the greatest ever works of English literature were also published during the reign of Queen Victoria—David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and A Christmas Carol—to name a few.
However, it was also a time of great devastation. A pandemic of dysentery caused by the dirty water in London, the Irish Famine of the 1840s, the Crimean War, the Second Boer War, and widespread poverty — these are just a few of the problems that have stained the reputation and memory of the era.
In short, both the prime minister and Monarch had much excitement to deal with and many reasons to be optimistic about the future. On the other hand, there were also many struggles to face.
Throughout Queen Victoria’s reign, she firmly held onto a belief that had been instilled in her since childhood and had been supported by her Prince Albert since their marriage. She truly considered any prime minister to be the “temporary head of the Cabinet,” while the Monarch was “the permanent premier.”
Some of these gentlemen Queen Victoria adored, others she truly hated. Nonetheless, they all worked closely with her to effectively rule the country.
1. William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne
William Lamb, Second Viscount Melbourne. He was confident. He was politically successful. He was notably good-looking. He possessed a great talent for charming and captivating women. He was intelligent, loyal, and caring. In short, he was the perfect candidate to advise and tutor a naive, sheltered, and poorly educated 18-year-old Queen of England.
The first thing to know about Lord Melbourne is that he was a Whig prime minister. He held the office twice: first, under King William IV for a brief spell in 1834, and second, between 1835 and 1841.
Lord Melbourne was not only Queen Victoria’s prime minister, but also her private secretary and personal friend. Queen Victoria is likely to have spent more time with him than any other of her prime ministers; the couple were known to spend four or five hours each day in each other’s company.
So close and intimate was their relationship that rumors circulated that there might be a romance between them. Shortly after Queen Victoria granted Lord Melbourne his own apartments at her residence of Windsor Castle, speculation arose that the couple might even get married.
The UK Government Website explains that “their close relationship was founded in his responsibility for tutoring her in the world of politics and instructing her in her role, but ran much deeper than this suggests. Queen Victoria came to regard Lord Melbourne as a mentor and friend.”
For four years Lord Melbourne trained Queen Victoria in the art of politics; he effectively showed her how Crown and Parliament worked together to rule the country.
Later in his premiership, probably in around 1840, Lord Melbourne’s support in Parliament began to decline. His term ended in August of 1841 when he resigned after a long series of parliamentary defeats.
Queen Victoria is known to have been devastated by the loss of the man she had so affectionately named Lord M. Undoubtedly, tutoring the young Queen was the highlight of Lord Melbourne’s career, and possibly of his life.
2. Sir Robert Peel
In the year 1841, after a general election, the Conservative Party came to power under Sir Robert Peel. By this point in her life, Queen Victoria had been married to the love of her life, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, for around 18 months. She was now part of a strong marital team. Naturally, she was less reliant on any prime minister and instead turned to her husband for advice.
Sir Robert Peel had already been prime minister once, having served under Queen Victoria’s Uncle, King William IV. Unfortunately, Queen Victoria knew little about Robert Peel at the beginning of his second period in office, and what she did know she didn’t like.
Fortunately for Queen, country, and Parliament, Sir Robert Peel was clever enough to request advice from an expert when required. Perceiving that he had yet to endear himself to the young and stubborn Queen, he turned to Lord Melbourne for help.
Lord Melbourne responded warmly, “Whenever you do anything or having anything to propose,” he began, “explain to her clearly your reasons.” He informed Peel that “the Queen is not conceited; she is aware that there are many things she does not understand, and she likes to have them explained to her elementarily, not at length and in detail but shortly and clearly.”
Despite this talk, it was likely to have been Prince Albert who persuaded his wife to hold a less hostile view of Sir Robert Peel. Eventually, Queen Victoria came to share her husband’s high opinion of his character, aims, and policies.
Although he had enjoyed five years of relative success as prime minister, Peel found that his government was weakened by anti-Catholic sentiment following the increase in the Maynooth Grant of 1845. His downfall was furthered by the outbreak of the Great Irish Famine. He also thought it would be best to join with the Whigs and the Radicals to repeal the Corn Laws. This decision was unpopular with his own party, and he resigned shortly after.
Although Queen Victoria had actively hated the idea of Sir Robert Peel as prime minister in 1841, by 1846, she had grown so fond of him that she wept over his resignation. He had become equally as attached to her; he described their final meeting as “the most painful moment of his life.”
When Robert Peel died in 1850, Queen Victoria lamented the loss of a “kind and true friend.” She continued to refer to him as “worthy Sir Peel, a man of unbounded loyalty, courage, patriotism and high-mindedness.”
Sir Robert Peel will always be remembered by residents of Britain as the man who founded the Metropolitan Police in London. His maiden speech in the Commons will also go down in history: it was famously described by the Speaker of the House as “the best first speech since that of William Pitt the Younger.”
3. John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
John Russell was a British Whig and Liberal statesman who served as prime minister of the United Kingdom twice, firstly from 1846 to 1852, and secondly from 1865 to 1866.
In addition to his two terms as prime minister, he also served in the cabinets of Earl Grey, the Earl of Aberdeen, Viscount Melbourne, and Viscount Palmerston. He is best remembered for being prime minister during the Irish famine — a crisis which neither he nor his predecessors were able to deal with effectively, and also for being the last member of the Whig party to serve as prime minister.
A few of his greatest achievements as prime minister included the Factory Act of 1847 (which introduced limitations on factory working hours), and the Public Health Act of 1848 (which improved the sanitary conditions of towns and populous places).
John Russell was one of the main promoters of parliamentary reform in the 19th century; he reduced the number of criminal offenses punishable by death and ensured that only murder and high treason should make a criminal deserving of execution.
Prompted by his opposition from Lord Palmerston, John Russell resigned on February 23rd, 1852. Some years later, on the death of Lord Palmerston, John Russell became prime minister once again in 1865. His second premiership was short-lived, and in 1866, party disunity brought down his government. Following his final resignation, John Russell never held any office again.
On his death in 1878, Queen Victoria recorded in her journal that John Russell was “a man of much talent, who leaves a name behind him, kind and good, with a great knowledge of constitution, who behaved very well, on many trying occasions.” On the other hand, she also confessed that John Russell had a habit of being “impulsive, selfish, vain and often reckless and imprudent.”
Queen Victoria was not John Russell’s only notable admirer. Charles Dickens dedicated one of his best-known novels, A Tale Of Two Cities, to John Russell. In the dedication he wrote the words, “In remembrance of many public services and private kindness.” Charles Dickens, who was known widely for his generosity and sympathy toward the poor, even remarked in a speech in 1869 that there was “no man in England whom he respected more in his public capacity, nor who he loved more in his private capacity.”
4. Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
Lord Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, is best remembered for being one of only four British prime ministers to have had three or more separate periods in office. He was prime minister firstly from 1852 to later in 1852, secondly from 1858 to 1859, and finally from 1866 to 1868. Just a few of his achievements included introducing the estate education system in Ireland and passing the Reform Act of 1867.
Derby will go down in history for being the longest-running leader of the Conservative Party. His 22 years as its leader actually makes him the longest-serving party leader in British history.
A final interesting story regarding Derby centers around one of his biographies. A book titled The Earl of Derby, written and published by George Saintsbury in 1892, was borrowed from a library in New Zealand. It was never returned and was missing for over one century. Shockingly, the book was returned 118 years later, after being discovered in Sydney, Australia. The book was described as being in adequate condition.
Lord Derby died at Knowsley Hall on the twenty-third of October, 1869, at the age of 70.
5. George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen
George Hamilton-Gordon, the fourth Earl of Aberdeen was a Conservative prime minister from 1852 until 1855. The Earl of Aberdeen is now remembered as one of the few gentlemen who genuinely enjoyed the responsibility of being prime minister, and thrived on the power and pressure that came with the job. We know this thanks to records of his own words, spoken on the event of his resignation.
“I do not know how I shall bear being out of this office,” he confessed, “I have many resources and many objects of interest, but after being occupied with such great affairs, it is not easy to subside to the level of common occupations.”
His major acts included the Charter Act of 1853, which opened the coveted Indian Civil Service. Unfortunately for his legacy, his failure to manage the Crimean War efficiently was pinned on him personally. His attempts to hold an inquiry into the conduct of the war led to his resignation in 1855.
Lord Aberdeen died just five years later, during the year of 1860, at the age of 76.
6. Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston
Lord Palmerston is one of the better known of the British prime ministers on this list, probably partly due to the long stretch of time for which he held the Office.
Lord Palmerston was prime minister twice: firstly from 1855 to 1858, and secondly from 1859 to 1865. He also served in government for over 46 years.
One of Lord Palmerston’s notable admirers was Florence Nightingale and she spoke well of Lord Palmerston after his death. “Though he made a joke when asked to do the right thing, he always did it,” she declared “He was so much more in earnest than he appeared, he did not do himself justice.”
Despite this good recommendation, in his day, Lord Palmerston was enormously unpopular. However, Queen Victoria sided with the general public rather than with Florence Nightingale; she hated him consistently throughout his time in office. Lord Palmerston angered Queen Victoria by making decisions without her approval. The pair also frequently clashed over her role in determining foreign policy as their views were somewhat different.
Lord Palmerston died on the 18th of October in 1865, at the age of 81.
7. Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield
Benjamin Disraeli. This prime minister was another of Queen Victoria’s personal favorites. He held the office twice: firstly from 1868 to later that same year, and secondly from 1874 to 1880. No doubt, after a long period of his absence, Queen Victoria would have been extremely pleased to see his return.
Little wonder she liked him so much: from the beginning of their relationship he set out to endear himself to her. He later told one of his colleagues that when speaking with Queen Victoria, a man should “first of all, remember that she is a woman.”
Queen Victoria said of Disraeli, “he is very peculiar but very clever and sensible.” She declared that he was ”full of poetry, romance and chivalry.”
Some of his major acts included the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act in 1875 (which decriminalized the work of trade unions and allowed peaceful picketing), and also the Public Health Act in 1875 (which improved sanitation and living conditions in urban areas).
To date, he was the first and only Jewish prime minister.
8. William Gladstone
William Gladstone is best remembered as the prime minister Queen Victoria simply could not stand. Famously, when Gladstone was the prime minister, Queen Victoria would not even invite him to sit down during their audiences, perhaps in the hope that he would not stay too long.
She herself labeled him as “a mischievous firebrand,” and stated that he was “arrogant,” “tyrannical,” and “obstinate.” Furthermore, she also declared that Gladstone was a “half-crazy and in many ways ridiculous, wild and incomprehensible old fanatic.” Nonetheless, Queen Victoria was required to put up with him intermittently from 1868 until 1894.
Gladstone was prime minister four times: firstly from 1868 to 1874, then from 1880 to 1885, then from 1886 to 1886, and then finally from 1892 to 1894. He served more separate periods than any other prime minister in British History. Gladstone may not have been popular with Queen Victoria, but he was certainly popular with the working classes, who called him “the grand old man.”
Some of Gladstone’s major acts included the People Act of 1884 (which increased the number of men who were eligible to vote in an election), and the Government of Ireland Bill of 1886 (which attempted to allow a system of home rule in Ireland).
Even after Gladstone’s death in 1898, Queen Victoria could not bring herself to say that she was sorry for the loss.
9. Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, third Marquess of Salisbury, was prime minister on three occasions. His first period was from 1885-1886, his second from 1886-1892, and his final was from 1895-1902.
Salisbury is best remembered for being the founder of the London County Council, an organization that was founded in 1889 and remained in existence until 1965. Some of his major acts included the Naval Defence Act of 1889 (which greatly enlarged the size of the Royal Navy), and the Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1897 (which made the employer liable for workplace accidents).
After his third term, Salisbury was succeeded as prime minister by his nephew, Arthur Balfour. Balfour was the first prime minister of the reign of Queen Victoria’s son and heir, King Edward VII.
Salisbury is generally regarded as one of the stronger and more effective leaders of his era.
The historian Nancy W. Ellenberger described him as “a patient, pragmatic practitioner with a keen understanding of Britain’s historic interests.”
Salisbury remains the last member of the British peerage to serve as prime minister.
A final interesting fact regarding Salisbury is that he was—as his name might suggest—a descendant of William Cecil. William Cecil, Lord Burghley, was the Chief Minister of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign. Salisbury was even born in Elizabeth I’s residence of Hatfield House in Hertfordshire, where he also later died in 1903.
10. Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
In the 21st century, we rarely hear much about Archibald Primrose, fifth Earl of Rosebery. However, during the final quarter of the 19th century, he was one of the most celebrated figures in Britain.
Rosebery was a millionaire, he was good-looking and charming, and he was a capable politician. For this lucky gentleman, everything just seemed to neatly fall into place. It was said that Rosebery’s charisma and popularity gave him such standing that it almost “eclipsed that of Royalty.”
Famously, Rosebery is said to have had three aims in life. The first aim was to win the Epsom Derby horse race. The second aim was to marry a rich heiress. The third aim was to become prime minister. Amazingly, having set these goals as a young child, he achieved all three swiftly and easily.
In 1878, Rosebery married a woman named Hannah de Rothschild, the daughter of Baron Mayer de Rothschild and his wife, Juliana. After inheriting her father’s fortune four years earlier, she had recently become the richest woman in Britain. Rosebery had achieved his first goal.
Rosebery won the Epsom Derby not once, as he had hoped, but three times and with three different horses. The first was with Ladas in 1894, the second was with Sir Visto in 1895, and the third was with Cicero in 1905. Rosebery had achieved his second goal.
Although he is generally regarded by historians as a failure, both as foreign minister and as prime minister, he still achieved his third goal. He was prime minister of Britain for just over one year, from the 5th of March in 1894 until the 22nd of June in 1895.
After his resignation, he was succeeded by a former British prime minister, the Marquess of Salisbury. It was Salisbury who was prime minister at the time of Victoria’s death in January 1901.
Archibald Primrose, Earl of Rosebery, was the only one of Queen Victoria’s prime ministers to live through World War One. He died in May of 1929.
