Introduction of Irish Home Rule Bill

Date: April 8, 1886 • Location: London, United Kingdom

William Ewart Gladstone introduces the first Irish Home Rule Bill into the British House of Commons.

William Ewart Gladstone was a British statesman who served as prime minister of the United Kingdom for four non-consecutive terms between 1868 and 1894, the most of any British prime minister. He began in politics as a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Newark and ended as the face of the Liberal Party. He also served four times as Chancellor of the Exchequer, five times as Leader of the House of Commons, and MP for over 60 years, from 1832 to 1846 and from 1847 to 1895, representing a total of five constituencies. His political career thus spanned nearly the entire Victorian era.