Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was a British Liberal Party politician. He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908 and Leader of the Liberal Party from 1899 to 1908. He was Secretary of State for War twice, in the Cabinets of Gladstone and Rosebery.
Background
Henry Campbell-Bannerman was born on the 7th of September 1836, being the second son of Sir James Campbell, Bart. , of Stracathro, Forfarshire, lord provost of Glasgow. His elder brother James, who just outlived him, was Conservative M. P. for Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities from 1880 to 1906, Both his father and his uncle William Campbell, who had together founded an important drapery business in Glasgow, left him considerable fortunes; and he assumed the name of Banner'man in 1872, in compliance with the provisions of the will of his maternal uncle, Henry Bannerman, from whom he inherited a large property in Kent.
Education
Henry Campbell-Bannerman was educated at Glasgow University and at Trinity College, Cambridge (senior optime, and classical honours).
Career
Henry Campbell-Bannerman entered Parliament in 1868 as Liberal member for Stirling Burghs, a seat he represented until his death. From 1871 to 1874 and from 1880 to 1882 he was financial secretary to the War Office; in 1882 he became secretary to the Admiralty and in 1884 chief secretary for Ireland. He entered the cabinet as secretary for war in 1886; but the government was defeated, and it was not until 1892 that he returned to this office, which he held until 1895. He was knighted for his services at the War Office in 1895. Throughout he had supported Home Rule for Ireland, the great issue of the day. The divisions that had arisen in the Liberal Party because of this question led, in 1899, to the election of Campbell-Bannerman as its leader in the House of Commons, as the man least likely to offend any interest. In this position he opposed tariff reform (i.e., the imposition of duties on imports). He became prime minister in December 1905; in parliamentary elections the following month, the Liberals gained a stupendous victory over the Unionists (Conservatives and Liberal-Unionists), which was to usher in a period of liberal reform. Campbell-Bannerman's prime achievement, however, was the grant of self-government to South Africa. Early in 1908 his health became poor and he resigned as prime minister on April 4.
Politics
The divisions that had arisen in the Liberal Party because of this question led, in 1899, to the election of Campbell-Bannerman as its leader in the House of Commons, as the man least likely to offend any interest.
On the 4th of December 1905 the Unionist government resigned, and the king sent for Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman, who in a few days formed his cabinet.
He managed to hold the Liberal Party together during a difficult, post-Gladstonian period, and led it to its greatest electoral victory in 1906.