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William Ewart Gladstone

(1809-1898), Prime Minister and writer; Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery

Early Victorian Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 324 portraits
Famous as the ‘grand old man’ of British politics; Gladstone was leader of the Liberal Party and prime minister in four governments from 1868 to 1894. Gladstone was responsible for major reforms in every sphere of national life, and for the development of imperial foreign policy. He divided the party on the issue of Irish Home Rule and stamped his moral authority on the politics of his time. Gladstone’s father, John Gladstone was one of the largest owners of enslaved Africans in the Caribbean and this wealth supported Gladstone’s early career in politics. As a politician, Gladstone supported the proposal to compensate slave-owners for the loss of their ‘property’ after slavery was abolished and the introduction of the apprenticeship system that required newly freed Africans to continue working for their masters for four to six years.

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William Ewart Gladstone, by Maull & Polyblank - NPG Ax7273

William Ewart Gladstone

by Maull & Polyblank
albumen print, arched top, 3 August 1857
NPG Ax7273

William Ewart Gladstone, by Maull & Polyblank - NPG x134783

William Ewart Gladstone

by Maull & Polyblank
albumen print, 3 August 1857
NPG x134783

William Ewart Gladstone, published by T. Fisher Unwin, after  George Frederic Watts - NPG Ax199212

William Ewart Gladstone

published by T. Fisher Unwin, after George Frederic Watts
photogravure, published 1893 (1859)
NPG Ax199212

William Ewart Gladstone, by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company - NPG x45468

William Ewart Gladstone

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG x45468

William Ewart Gladstone, by Lombardi & Co - NPG x4182

William Ewart Gladstone

by Lombardi & Co
albumen cabinet card, mid 1890s (early 1860s)
NPG x4182

William Ewart Gladstone, by Unknown photographer - NPG x5973

William Ewart Gladstone

by Unknown photographer
albumen carte-de-visite, early 1860s
NPG x5973

Sculptural bust of William Ewart Gladstone, by Elliott & Fry, after  Unknown sculptor - NPG Ax8536

Sculptural bust of William Ewart Gladstone

by Elliott & Fry, after Unknown sculptor
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax8536

William Ewart Gladstone, by Alfred William Bennett - NPG Ax8535

William Ewart Gladstone

by Alfred William Bennett
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax8535

William Ewart Gladstone, by Unknown photographer - NPG x197227

William Ewart Gladstone

by Unknown photographer
hand-coloured albumen stereoscopic card, early 1860s
NPG x197227

William Ewart Gladstone, by John Jabez Edwin Mayall - NPG Ax16391

William Ewart Gladstone

by John Jabez Edwin Mayall
albumen carte-de-visite, 23 July 1861
NPG Ax16391

William Ewart Gladstone, by John Jabez Edwin Mayall - NPG Ax18250

William Ewart Gladstone

by John Jabez Edwin Mayall
albumen carte-de-visite, 23 July 1861
NPG Ax18250

William Ewart Gladstone, by John Jabez Edwin Mayall, published by  A. Marion & Co - NPG x5888

William Ewart Gladstone

by John Jabez Edwin Mayall, published by A. Marion & Co
albumen print on publisher's card mount, 23 July 1861
NPG x5888

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