Disraeli

Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, was a British statesman and novelist who helped shape late-Victorian politics. Born in London on 21 December 1804 into a Jewish family of Italian descent, he was baptized into the Anglican Church in his youth. He built a career as a writer before entering Parliament in 1837 as a Tory MP for Maidstone, combining literary achievement with political ambition and developing a reputation as a sharp and charismatic debater.

In Parliament, Disraeli rose to lead the Conservative Party and played a central role in reforming its image and approach to governance. He is associated with the Reform Act of 1867, which broadened the franchise and altered the British electoral landscape. A prolific author, Disraeli had already established himself as a novelist with works such as Sybil and Lothair, and his political writings helped fuse literary talent with policy ambition.

Disraeli served as prime minister in two nonconsecutive terms, first briefly in 1868 and then from 1874 to 1880. His governments pursued a program of imperial consolidation and modernization of the Conservative Party. A defining foreign-policy moment was the 1875 purchase of a controlling stake in the Suez Canal Company, which extended British influence in Egypt and the Mediterranean. In 1876 he was created Earl of Beaconsfield, reflecting his prominence in public life.

Disraeli’s legacy lies in shaping the modern Conservative Party, extending parliamentary reform, and articulating a durable vision of imperial Britain. He remains a central figure in Victorian politics, known for both his political acumen and his literary contributions.