Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield 1804-81
English statesman and novelist

Benjamin Disraeli was born in London, the eldest son of Isaac D'Israeli, who, although a Jew, had him baptized in 1817. He was educated at a private school at Walthamstow by a Unitarian minister, was articled to a solicitor and kept nine terms at Lincoln's Inn. In 1826 he became the talk of the town with his first novel, Vivian Grey. After four unsuccessful attempts at election, he entered parliament for Maidstone in 1837. His over-ornate maiden speech was drowned in shouts of laughter, except for the closing words 'ay and though I sit down now, the time will come when you will hear me'. By 1842 he was head of the 'Young England' group of young Tories, and had married Mrs Wyndham Lewis, the widow of a fellow MP.

Robert Peel did not reward Disraeli's services with office and was fiercely attacked by him over the repeal of the Corn Laws (1846); this helped bring about Peel's political downfall. At the same time Disraeli wrote two political novels, Coningsby (1844) and Sybil (1845), in which his respect for tradition is blended with 'Young England' radicalism. As Chancellor of the Exchequer and leader of the Lower House in the brief Derby administration of 1852, he coolly discarded Protection, and came off on the whole with flying colours; but his budget was rejected, and Gladstone succeeded him in the Aberdeen coalition ministry.

In opposition (1858-66), Disraeli displayed talent as a debater, and a spirit and persistency under defeat that won for him the admiration of his adversaries. As Chancellor of the Exchequer in the third Derby administration (1866), he introduced and carried a Reform Bill (1867). In February 1868 he succeeded Lord Derby as premier; but, in the face of a hostile majority, he resigned in December. Disraeli returned to power in 1874 and from this time his curious relationship with Queen Victoria began. Disraeli's wife had meanwhile been raised to the peerage as Viscountess Beaconsfield; she died in 1872.

In 1875 Disraeli made Great Britain half-owner of the Suez Canal; and in 1876 he conferred on the queen the new title of Empress of India. The same year he was called to the Upper House as Earl of Beaconsfield. The Bulgarian insurrection which was brutally put down by the Turks did not move Disraeli as it did Gladstone. The Russians threatened Constantinople and at length a British fleet was dispatched to the Dardanelles, but war was averted by Disraeli's diplomacy at the Congress of Berlin (1878). Russia agreed to respect British interests, the Turkish empire was drastically reduced and Great Britain's share was 'Peace with honour' and Cyprus. Bismarck was full of admiration for Disraeli: 'Der alte Jude, das ist ein Mann' ('The crafty old Jew, now he's what I call a man'). But the increase of taxation and loss of trade brought about a catastrophic defeat for the Tories at the polls in 1880, and Disraeli retired to writing. He was buried at Hughenden, near High Wycombe.

Bibliography: The most famous of his works are the trilogy Coningsby (1844), Sybil (1845) and Tancred (1847). He drew extensively on his travel experiences in his writing, notably in the trilogy The Young Duke (1831), Contarini Fleming (1832) and Alroy (1833), the last set in 12th century Azerbaijan. Henrietta Temple and Venetia were love stories, published in 1837. After a long gap, Lothair was published in 1870. His last finished novel was Endymion (1880). See also Sarah Bradford, Disraeli (1983); Daniel R Schwarz, Disraeli's Fiction (1979); William F Monypenny and G E Buckle, The Life of Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield (6 vols, 1910-20, reissued in 4 vols, 1968).