Benjamin Disraeli

Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881), the son of the author Isaac Disraeli, was a British politician and novelist. Entered Parliament in 1837 as Tory MP for Maidstone?. In 1842 Disraeli was prominent among the founders of the [Young England]? group. Disraeli's opposition to the then Prime Minister[Sir Robert Peel]?'s laissez-faire capitalism, and the [Repeal of the Corn Laws]? led to Peel's downfall and split the Tory party.

In 1852 [Lord Derby]? appointed Disraeli [Chancellor of the Exchequer]?. In 1868 he finally became Prime Minister. He will be most remembered for the [Reform Act of 1867]? which enfranchised every adult male householder; prior to this legislation, a tiny proportion of the population was entitled to vote.

In 1876 he was made Lord Beaconsfield by Queen Victoria.

Disraeli had fine sense of humor, and enjoyed the ambiguities of the English language. When a tiresome aspiring writer sent Disraeli a manuscript to review, he liked to reply "Dear Sir: I thank you for sending me a copy of your book, which I shall waste no time in reading."

Novels

[Vivian Grey]? (1826)

[The Young Duke]? (1831)

[Contarini Fleming]? (1832)

Alroy? (1833)

[Henrietta Temple]? (1837)

Venetia? (1837)

Coningsby? (1844)

Sybil? (1845)

Tancred? (1847)

Endymion? (1880)