First Gladstone Ministry

The Cabinet

OFFICE NAME TERM
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons		 William Ewart Gladstone December 1868–February 1874
Lord Chancellor The Lord Hatherley December 1868–October 1872
  The Lord Selborne October 1872–February 1874
Lord President of the Council The Earl de Grey† December 1868–August 1873
  The Lord Aberdare August 1873–February 1874
Lord Privy Seal The Earl of Kimberley December 1868–July 1870
  The Viscount Halifax July 1870–February 1874
Home Secretary Henry Austin Bruce‡ December 1868–August 1873
  Robert Lowe August 1873–February 1874
Foreign Secretary The Earl of Clarendon December 1868–July 1870
  The Earl Granville July 1870–February 1874
Secretary of State for the Colonies The Earl Granville December 1868–July 1870
  The Earl of Kimberley July 1870–February 1874
Secretary of State for War Edward Cardwell December 1868–February 1874
Secretary of State for India The Duke of Argyll December 1868–February 1874
Chancellor of the Exchequer Robert Lowe December 1868–August 1873
  William Ewart Gladstone August 1873–February 1874
First Lord of the Admiralty Hugh Childers December 1868–March 1871
  George Joachim Goschen March 1871–February 1874
President of the Board of Trade John Bright December 1868–January 1871
  Chichester Fortescue January 1871–February 1874
President of the Poor Law Board George Joachim Goschen December 1868–March 1871
  replaced by the Local Government Board
President of the Local Government Board James Stansfeld March 1871–February 1874
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Hugh Childers August 1872–September 1873
  John Bright September 1873–February 1874
Postmaster General Marquess of Hartington December 1868–January 1871
  incumbent not in cabinet
Chief Secretary for Ireland Chichester Fortescue December 1868–January 1871
  Marquess of Hartington January 1871–February 1874
Vice President of the Council William Edward Forster July 1870–February 1874
Leader of the House of Lords The Earl Granville December 1868–February 1874


† The Earl de Grey was created the Marquess of Ripon in 1871. ‡ Henry Austin Bruce was created Baron Aberdare in 1873.

Notes
  • William Ewart Gladstone served as both First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer between August 1873 and February 1874.
Changes
  • July, 1870: On the death of Lord Clarendon, Lord Granville succeeds him as Foreign Secretary. Lord Kimberley succeeds Granville as Colonial Secretary, and Lord Halifax succeeds Kimberley as Lord Privy Seal. W.E. Forster enters the Cabinet as Vice President of the Council.
  • January, 1871: Chichester Fortescue succeeds Bright at the Board of Trade. Lord Hartington succeeds Fortescue as Chief Secretary for Ireland. Hartington's successor as Postmaster-General is not in the Cabinet.
  • March, 1871: G.J. Goschen succeeds Childers at the Admiralty. James Stansfeld succeeds Goschen at the Poor Law Board (which becomes the Local Government Board later that year).
  • August, 1872: Hugh Childers returns to the Cabinet as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
  • October, 1872: Lord Selborne succeeds Lord Hatherley as Lord Chancellor.
  • August, 1873: Lord Aberdare (formerly Henry Austin Bruce) succeeds Lord Ripon as Lord President. Robert Lowe succeeds Aberdare as Home Secretary. Gladstone himself takes over the Exchequer.
  • September, 1873: John Bright returns to the Cabinet, succeeding Childers at the Duchy of Lancaster.
Preceded by
First Disraeli Ministry		 British ministries
1868–1874		 Succeeded by
Second Disraeli Ministry

For a more detailed list, including ministers not in the Cabinet, see Liberal Government 1868-1874.

18th century
19th century
20th century
21st century