The Lion and the Unicorn: Gladstone vs Disraeli

by Richard Aldous

As Wellington slumbered in the Lords, the 14th Earl of Derby (as we must now call Stanley) joined him on the Tory benches. This was an act of fealty and respect. Almost exactly a year earlier Derby’s attempt to form a government had ended in failure. Now he had just accepted the Queen’s invitation to become prime minister. The new premier had come in person to tell Wellington the names of his cabinet. As Derby read from his list, a look of bewilderment crossed the Iron Duke’s face. He craned his neck forward to catch the names. ‘Who? Who?’ he roared. Even when Derby was able to get the duke to understand, it made little difference. ‘Sir John Pakington,’ shouted Derby. ‘Who is he?’ bellowed Wellington again. ‘Never heard of him.’ It was an inauspicious beginning to Lord Derby’s first administration. History forever afterwards would recall this as the ‘Who? Who?’ government. Most who served in cabinet were nonentities. Once in office they achieved very little. Yet the 1852 Conservative government marked a turning point. For it was here that active hostilities began between the two men set to dominate British politics for the next thirty years.