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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Chamberlain,_Joseph
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1836-1914. British politician, reformist
mayor of and member of Parliament for
Birmingham; in 1886, resigned from the
cabinet over Gladstone's policy of home rule
for Ireland, and led the revolt of the
Liberal-Unionists. By 1874 Chamberlain had
made a sufficient fortune in the Birmingham
screw-manufacturing business to devote
himself entirely to politics. He adopted
radical views, and took an active part in
local affairs. Three times mayor of
Birmingham, he carried through many schemes
of municipal development. In 1876 he was
elected to Parliament and joined the
republican group led by Charles Dilke, the
extreme left wing of the Liberal Party. In
1880 he entered Gladstone's cabinet as
president of the Board of Trade. The climax
of his radical period was reached with the
unauthorized programme, advocating, among
other things, free education, graduated
taxation, and smallholdings of `three acres
and a cow'. As colonial secretary in
Salisbury's Conservative government,
Chamberlain was responsible for relations
with the Boer republics up to the outbreak of
war in 1899. In 1903 he resigned to campaign
for imperial preference or tariff reform as a
means of consolidating the empire. From 1906
he was incapacitated by a stroke. Chamberlain
was one of the most colourful figures of
British politics, and his monocle and orchid
made him a favourite subject for political
cartoonists.