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Season 2025 – Talk 02 – Gladstone
In ‘Gladstone’ Jo Huddleston tells us about the career of the man who was Liberal Prime Minister four times. His talk suggests that he feels Gladstone was far better than our recent Prime Ministers and also his great opponent, Disraeli.
Early life:
Born in 1809, in Liverpool, to a pretty well off family. His father owns 2,509 slaves working in plantations. It’s fair to suggest he’s brought up in a fairly capitalist conservative way.
Entering Eton in 1821 when he’s 12 years old and shows no interest in sports or games, something that lasts all through his life. The young Gladstone feels that the chapel services are very poor.
Religion:
A devout Anglican, he spends a lot of time inspecting his own motives and plans to check that they are ethically correct, that they favour people in general and not his personal wishes. So maybe he’s a bit over serious.
He starts a diary, which he keeps all his life. It reads as if he is determined to show that he spends his life usefully. A diary of self-congratulation, in a modest sort of way, giving the impression that he feels accountable to God directly. He really took Anglicanism very seriously.
He reads the Bible every day. And is pretty sure he’s a significant sinner.
University:
At the end of his studies at Christ Church College he graduates with a double first in classics and maths in 1828.
President of the Oxford Union and is regarded as a great orator with flashing eyes, a thunderous voice and torrents of logical language.
Politics:
A career which sees his views change radically. First elected as Tory MP for Newark in 1832 he becomes Liberal Prime Minister for the first time in 1868 – a massive change!
Listen to Jo tell the story.
About this podcast:
This is an edited recording of a talk given to the Farnham u3a World History: Ancient, Medieval and Modern Group.
This podcast is also available through Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Podchaser, Spotify, YouTube and others.
AKM Music licenses Media Magazine for use with this talk.
© The MrT Podcast Studio and Farnham u3a World History: Ancient, Medieval and Modern Group 2018 – 2026
