ABEL GRIMMER - THE LOST CASTLE - PAGE 7 Great Britain Victorian Era An Empire at its Peak - Victoria's lineage traces back to the German House of Hanover, with her grandfather, George III, being the first Hanoverian king born in England. - Because Hanover followed Salic Law (excluding female rulers), her uncle, Ernest Augustus, inherited the Hanoverian crown, while Victoria inherited the British crown. - Her long reign (1837-1901) was a period of immense industrial, cultural, and imperial growth for Britain. - This period saw the rise of the Industrial Revolution, bringing innovations like the telephone, electric lights, steamships, and the massive expansion of railways, transforming society and trade. - Bisexuality existed and Victorian society encouraged it between women. lesbianism and female 'friendships' were promoted within female boarding schools and between women in heterosexual marriages; the precise relationships exemplified in Jane Eyre. Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date. (Shakespeare, Sonnet 18) Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 1837 - 1901 House of Hanover Alexander Bassano, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Queen Victoria - Victoria was born as Alexandrina Victoria (1819-1901) and was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from June 20, 1837, until her death on January 22, 1901. - Her reign of 63 years and 216 days, which was longer than those of any of her predecessors, constituted the Victorian era, a period of industrial, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom marked by a great expansion of the British Empire. - In 1876, the British parliament voted to grant her the additional title of Empress of India.   War horse - Queen Victoria's reign was defined by numerous British military campaigns, from colonial conflicts in Africa and Asia like the Indian Rebellion from 1857-1858 which was a turning point leading to the end of East India Company rule and the start of direct British rule (the Raj). - First Opium War from 1839-1842 was a period where Britain sent forces to protect opium trade interests in China, leading to Hong Kong's cession. - The Colonial Wars involved numerous conflicts in China, Africa (Zulu War, Asante Wars), Afghanistan, and New Zealand, expanding the British Empire. - Second Anglo-Afghan War from 1878-1880 aimed at counteracting Russian influence in Central Asia. - She presided over the major European Crimean War from 1854 to 1856, where she became actively involved by supporting troops, visiting hospitals, and establishing the Victoria Cross for bravery. - Boer Wars (1880-81, 1899-1902) overshadowed the end of her reign, with Victoria famously declaring, 'We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat.' - She maintained neutrality in the American Civil War and influenced European politics through her vast royal family, but her family ties, particularly to Prussia, linked Britain to European power struggles that eventually led to inadvertently setting some groundwork for future conflicts like World War I. Victoria's era was defined by the expansion and challenges of empire, with the Queen acting as a symbol of national unity and imperial might, personally engaging with the human cost of war. (Assistant)   Victoria as Elon Musk Alexandrina Victoria 1819-1901 5/24  1/22 Elon Reeve Musk 1971  6/28 Faggy boy  - Victoria was born on May 24, 1819, and was the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (the fourth son of King George III), and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Victoria as Elon Musk Alexandrina Victoria 1819-1901 5/24  1/22 Elon Reeve Musk 1971  6/28 Princess - Victoria married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in 1840. - Her 9 children were the illegitimate children of Nathan Rothschild. - Their children married into royal and noble families across the continent.   Rothschild - Victoria, Princess Royal (Vicky) became German Empress by marrying the future Emperor Frederick III; their son was Kaiser Wilhelm II, the German Emperor during WWI. - Edward VII (Bertie) became King of the United Kingdom, linking the British monarchy directly to European courts. - Princess Alice married Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse; their daughter Alexandra (Alix) became Tsarina of Russia. - Prince Alfred (Duke of Edinburgh/Saxe-Coburg and Gotha)  married Grand Duchess Marie of Russia, connecting the British and Russian royals. - Princess Helena (Lenchen) married Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. - Princess Louise married the Duke of Argyll, a Scottish noble, less involved in foreign royalty. - Prince Arthur (Duke of Connaught) his daughter, Princess Margaret, married into the Swedish royal family, linking to Scandinavian royalty. - Prince Leopold (Duke of Albany) married Princess Helena of Waldeck-Pyrmont and his daughter, Princess Alice, married into the Battenberg/Mountbatten family, tying into Spanish and other European lines. - Princess Beatrice married Prince Henry of Battenberg; their daughter Victoria became Queen of Spain as the wife of King Alfonso XIII, introducing hemophilia to the Spanish royal family.     Queen Victoria's nine children married into royal families across Europe, earning her the title "Grandmother of Europe," creating extensive dynastic ties that shaped European monarchies through the early 20th century.Through these marriages, Victoria's descendants occupied thrones in Germany, Russia, Greece, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, making her family central to European diplomacy and politics, and a key factor in the interconnectedness of royal houses that ultimately led to the conflicts of World War I. (Assistant)     30th Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1835-1841 (2nd term) Henry William Lamb as Hannibal Lecter Henry William Lamb 1779-1848 3/15   11/24 Prime Minister Hannibal Lecter 30th Prime Minister Lord Byron - Lamb developed a very close, almost paternal relationship with the young Queen, guiding her through the early years of her reign and the intricacies of constitutional monarchy. - Their rapport was central to his second premiership. - His governments oversaw significant Victorian-era reforms, including the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 and the Municipal Corporations Act of 1835. - He was a civilian Prime Minister, not a soldier, responsible for policy and governance during wartime. The Municipal Corporations Act of 1835 was a landmark UK law that reformed England and Wales's corrupt, outdated borough governments, replacing old systems with elected councils (mayors, aldermen, councillors) chosen by ratepayers, creating modern local authorities with powers for policing, sanitation, and infrastructure, laying the groundwork for Victorian civic life, though excluding major cities like London initially. (Assistant)     31st Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1841-1846  (2nd term) Sir Robert Peel as Trump   Sir Robert Peel 1788-1850 2/5  7/2 Prime Minister Donald John Trump 1946  6/14 31st Prime Minister Orange Peel - Peel lowered tariffs, reintroduced income tax, and established the Bank of England's charter!!! - He successfully resolved border disputes with the U.S. and ended the Afghan War. - He died in 1850 from injuries sustained in a riding accident, shortly after leaving office.   Augusta Chronicle and Georgia Advertiser - February 5, 1831 First appearance of Peelite in press - The Peelites were a breakaway political faction of the British Conservative Party from 1846 to 1859. - Initially led by Robert Peel (1788-1850), the former Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader in 1846, the Peelites supported free trade while the bulk of the Conservative Party remained protectionist. - The Peelites later merged with the Whigs and Radicals to form the Liberal Party in 1859. - The Peelites were characterised by commitment to free trade and a managerial, almost technocratic, approach to government. Franz Xaver Winterhalter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons The Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel, 1844 - Sir Robert Peel was the initial leader of the Peelites in the House of Commons after the Conservative Party split in 1846. - Peel, as the Duke of Wellington served as Leader of the House of Lords for the whole Conservative Party from 1841 until Peel's government fell in June 1846.     32nd Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1846-1852 (1st term) John Russell, 1st Earl Russell John Jabez Edwin Mayall, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons - John Russell, 1st Earl Russell (1792-1878), known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was a British Whig and Liberal statesman who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1852 and again from 1865 to 1866. - The third son of the 6th Duke of Bedford, Russell was educated at Westminster School and Edinburgh University before entering Parliament in 1813. - In 1828 he took a leading role in the repeal of the Test Acts which discriminated against Catholics and Protestant dissenters. - He was one of the principal architects of the Reform Act 1832, which was the first major reform of Parliament since the Restoration, and a significant early step on the road to democracy and away from rule by the aristocracy and landed gentry. - He favored expanding the right to vote to the middle classes and enfranchising Britain's growing industrial towns and cities, but he never advocated universal suffrage and he opposed the secret ballot.   John Russell as Trump John Russell 1792-1878 8/18  5/28 Prime Minister Donald John Trump 1946  6/14 32nd Prime Minister The Widow's Mite - Russell was outspoken on many issues over the course of his career, advocating Catholic emancipation in the 1820s, calling for the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1845, denouncing Pope Pius IX's revival of Catholic bishoprics in 1850, and supporting Italian unification during the 1860s. - He faced problems with ineffective handling of the Irish Famine, disunited cabinets, weak parliamentary support, and difficult relationships with colleagues. - Perceived as aloof and elitist, which alienated some supporters. 33rd Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1852-1852 (1st term) Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby W. & D. Downey, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons - Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby (1799-1869), known as Lord Stanley from 1834 to 1851, was a British statesman and Conservative politician who served 3 times as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. - To date, he is the longest-serving leader of the Conservative Party from 1846–68. - He is one of only 4 British prime ministers to have 3 or more separate periods in office. - However, his ministries each lasted less than two years and totaled 3 years and 280 days. - Derby introduced the state education system in Ireland, and reformed Parliament. Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley as Trump Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley 1799-1869 3/29  10/23 Prime Minister Donald John Trump 1946  6/14   33rd Prime Minister Rupert of Debate - Despite his high rank, he was deemed insolvent upon his death. - His vast private zoo and museum at Knowsley cost approximately £15,000 annually (in mid-19th-century currency), which severely encumbered his estates. 34th Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1852-1855 George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen John Jabez Edwin Mayall, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons - George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen (1784-1860), styled Lord Haddo from 1791 to 1801, was a British statesman, diplomat and landowner, successively a Tory, Conservative and Peelite politician and specialist in foreign affairs. - He served as Prime Minister from 1852 until 1855 in a coalition between the Whigs and Peelites, with Radical and Irish support. - The Aberdeen ministry was filled with powerful and talented politicians, whom Aberdeen was largely unable to control and direct. - Despite his efforts to avoid this happening, his ministry took Britain into the Crimean War in 1854, and fell when the war's conduct became unpopular. - Subsequently, Aberdeen retired from politics. George Hamilton-Gordon as Trump George Hamilton-Gordon 1784-1860 1/28  12/14 Prime Minister Donald John Trump 1946  6/14   34th Prime Minister Athenian Aberdeen - As Prime Minister, he led a coalition with strong personalities (Palmerston, Russell, Gladstone) whom he couldn't control, hindering effective governance. - His diplomatic skill didn't translate to decisive action as prime minister, especially regarding Russia, making him appear weak, according to critics like Disraeli. Foreign Policy Clashes.   35th Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1855-1858 (1st term) Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston Herbert Watkins, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons - Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784-1865), known as Lord Palmerston, was a British statesman and politician who served as prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1855 to 1858 and from 1859 to his death in 1865. - A member of the Tory, Whig and Liberal parties, Palmerston was also the first Liberal prime minister. - He dominated British foreign policy from 1830 to 1865 when Britain stood at the height of its imperial power. - In 1802, Temple succeeded to his father's Irish peerage as the 3rd Viscount Palmerston. - This Irish peerage did not entitle him to a seat in the House of Lords and Temple became a Tory MP in the House of Commons in 1807. - From 1809 to 1828, he was Secretary at War, organizing the finances of the army. - He was Foreign Secretary from 1830–1834, 1835–1841 and 1846–1851, responding to a series of conflicts in Europe. Henry John Temple as Trump Henry John Temple 1784-1865 10/20  10/18 Prime Minister Donald John Trump 1946  6/14   35th Prime Minister Lord Pumicestone Mongoose - Inheriting debt from his father meant he couldn't afford to be out of office for long, driving his pursuit of public roles. - Crimean War (1853-1856): He became Prime Minister during this conflict, which involved Britain and France against Russia, aiming to maintain European balance of power   Radicals 1763-1859 - The Radicals were a loose parliamentary political grouping in Great Britain and Ireland in the early to mid-19th century who drew on earlier ideas of radicalism and helped to transform the Whigs into the Liberal Party. - The Radical movement arose in the late 18th-century to support parliamentary reform, with additional aims including lower taxes and the abolition of sinecures. - Sinecure is a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit.   36th Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1858-1859 (2nd term) Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley as Trump Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley 1799-1869 3/29  10/23 Prime Minister Donald John Trump 1946  6/14   36th Prime Minister Rupert of Debate - Established the state education system in Ireland which was detested by many of the Irish. - Passed the India Act of 1858, moving control of India from the East India Company to the Crown. - Championed Jewish emancipation, ending their exclusion from Parliament. 37th Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1859-1865 (2nd term) Henry John Temple as Trump Henry John Temple 1784-1865 10/20  10/18 Prime Minister Donald John Trump 1946  6/14   37th Prime Minister Mongoose - Temple was deeply involved in warfare as a politician, serving as Secretary at War during the Napoleonic Wars from 1809-1828, organizing army finances, and later as Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister, where his assertive diplomacy (often called 'Palmerstonian'). - This pushed Britain into conflicts or crises to protect interests, notably supporting liberal revolutions in Europe but opposing Russian expansion from 1830-1850 and mediating during the American Civil War. 38th Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1865-1866 (2nd term) John Russell as Trump John Russell 1792-1878 8/18  5/28 Prime Minister Donald John Trump 1946  6/14 38th Prime Minister Finality Jack - The Factory Act of 1847, also known as the Ten Hours Act, was a landmark UK law that restricted working hours for women and young people (ages 13-18) in textile mills to 10 hours per day. - Russell was known for championing moderate reforms like the  Public Health Act of 1848. - He expanded the state's role in education. - Supported representative government in colonies and repealed Navigation Acts of 1849, ending centuries of mercantilist trade restrictions by adopting free trade principles. - Russell was Prime Minister during periods of significant international conflict, notably the American Civil War (1861-1865), where Britain, under his foreign policy as Foreign Secretary, navigated neutrality amidst Confederate attempts for recognition, and the Schleswig-Holstein War in 1864, which he tried to mediate. The Public Health Act 1848 was a landmark British law establishing a General Board of Health for England and Wales, created in response to poor sanitation from industrialization, aiming to improve water, sewage, refuse removal, and housing by empowering local authorities to form health boards, though it was often limited by its permissive nature and lack of central funding. Driven by social reformer Edwin Chadwick's reports, it marked the first government attempt to proactively manage public health, making local councils responsible for environmental health and laying groundwork for future sanitary reforms. (Assistant) 39th Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1866-1868 (2nd term) Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley as Trump Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley 1799-1869 3/29  10/23 Prime Minister Donald John Trump 1946  6/14   39th Prime Minister Scorpion Stanley - Despite his high rank, he was deemed insolvent upon his death. - His vast private zoo and museum at Knowsley cost approximately £15,000 annually (in mid-19th-century currency), which severely encumbered his estates. - He remains the longest-serving leader of the Conservative Party (1846–1868) and is one of only 4 British Prime Ministers to serve 3 or more non-consecutive terms, despite each term being relatively brief. 40th Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1868-1868 (1st term) Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield Cornelius Jabez Hughes, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Masonic hand sign - Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (1804-1881), was a British statesman, Conservative politician and writer who twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. - He played a central role in the creation of the modern Conservative Party, defining its policies and its broad outreach. - Disraeli is remembered for his influential voice in world affairs, his political battles with the Liberal Party leader William Ewart Gladstone, and his one-nation conservatism or 'Tory democracy.' - He made the Conservatives the party most identified with the British Empire and military action to expand it, both of which were popular among British voters. - He is the only British prime minister to have been born Jewish.   Disraeli strongly supported imperialism, viewing the British Empire as essential for national power, and expanded its reach, including proclaiming Queen Victoria Empress of India. (Assistant) Benjamin Disraeli as Bob Dylan Benjamin Disraeli 1804-1881 12/21  4/19 Prime Minister Robert Allen Zimmerman 1941  5/24   40th Prime Minister Dizzy the Dandy (black velvet suits) - As a young man, Disraeli engaged in stock market speculation and the launch of an unsuccessful newspaper, The Representative, which resulted in significant financial losses and debts that plagued him for decades. - Disraeli's political career was defined by his intense, lifelong rivalry with the Liberal leader William Ewart Gladstone. - Their opposing political philosophies and personal animosity created a dynamic of constant political battle. - Abyssinian Expedition (1868): Despite high costs, he defended this "noble feat of arms" as boosting British prestige in the East, prioritizing success over money.   The British Expedition to Abyssinia was a rescue mission and punitive expedition carried out in 1868 by the armed forces of the British Empire against the Ethiopian Empire (also known at the time as Abyssinia). Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia, then often referred to by the anglicized name Theodore, imprisoned several missionaries and two representatives of the British government in an attempt to force the British government to comply with his requests for military assistance. Historian Harold G. Marcus described the action as "one of the most expensive affairs of honour in history." (Assistant)   41st Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1868-1874 (1st term) William Ewart Gladstone William Henry Mote, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Masonic hidden hand - William Ewart Gladstone was Chancellor of the Exchequer four times, for more than 12 years and he was also Leader of the House of Commons. - He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 4 times (1868–74, 1880–85, 1886, 1892–94) as a Liberal leader, more than any other British Prime Minister, dominating the Victorian era with his focus on moralistic leadership, financial reform (as four-time Chancellor), and Irish Home Rule, though his policies often divided his party and the nation, solidifying his image as a transformative but controversial figure known as the 'Grand Old Man.' - Gladstone was a Member of Parliament (MP) for 60 years, from 1832 to 1845 and from 1847 to 1895; during that time he represented a total of 5 constituencies. William Ewart Gladstone as Duke of Wellington William Ewart Gladstone 1809-1898 12/29   5/19 Prime Minister Arthur Wellesley 1769-1852 5/1   9/14 Prime Minister 41st Prime Minister God's Only Mistake - Gladstone championed classical liberalism, advocating for reduced government spending, free trade, individual liberty, and helping the poor through voluntary means rather than state dependency. - Focused on liberal reforms, disestablishing the Church of Ireland, improving civil service, introducing the secret ballot with the Ballot Act, and granting legal status to trade unions in the Trades Union Act.   The Ballot Act (1872) attempted to deal with bad electoral practices by introducing the secret ballot. This meant voters could vote in private without being intimidated into voting for a particular party. It also meant that it was harder for bribers to ensure that voters did as requested.. (Assistant) 42nd Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1874-1880 (2nd term) Benjamin Disraeli as Bob Dylan Benjamin Disraeli 1804-1881 12/21  4/19 Prime Minister Robert Allen Zimmerman 1941  5/24   42nd Prime Minister Dizzy the Dandy (black velvet suits) - Disraeli is credited with formulating 'One Nation' conservatism, also known as 'Tory democracy,' a philosophy that aimed to unite the different social classes of Britain, particularly appealing to the working classes with social reforms. - The Public Health Act 1875, which codified sanitary laws, including provisions for clean water and refuse disposal. - The Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875, which legalized peaceful picketing and made workers and employers more equal before the law regarding labor contracts. - In 1875, he arranged the purchase of a controlling interest in the Suez Canal Company from the Khedive of Egypt, securing a vital route to India. - He passed the Royal Titles Act in 1876, proclaiming Queen Victoria as the Empress of India. - Congress of Berlin (1878): He successfully negotiated a settlement to the Russo-Turkish War, preventing Russian dominance in the Balkans and acquiring Cyprus for Britain, a major diplomatic triumph. - He faced liberal accusations, particularly from Gladstone, for potentially supporting Turkish actions against Christians and for aggressive imperialism. - Disraeli died in 1881, shortly after losing the 1880 general election to Gladstone's Liberals, leaving a lasting legacy in shaping the modern Conservative Party 43rd Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1880-1885 (2nd term) William Ewart Gladstone as Duke of Wellington William Ewart Gladstone 1809-1898 12/29   5/19 Prime Minister Arthur Wellesley 1769-1852 5/1   9/14 Prime Minister 43rd Prime Minister Slave master - William Gladstone defended his father’s role in slavery. - The great Victorian statesman’s glittering career was financed by huge profits made in the 1820s and 30s on Guyanese estates. - Crimean War (1854-1856): As Chancellor, Gladstone fiercely funded it through tax hikes (especially Income Tax) to make Britons feel the cost, but he later opposed the war itself, resigning from Palmerston's government in protest of a war inquiry. - Opium Wars (1840s): A strong opponent, he called the First Opium War 'infamous and atrocious' and a 'war more unjust in its origin,' attributing it to 'national iniquity.' - His governments enacted significant changes, including the Representation of the People Act 1884, expanding the vote, and measures against corruption. - This added about 2 million voters, enfranchising roughly two-thirds of the adult male population, primarily rural workers, however, the Act did not grant women the right to vote, and roughly 40% of men remained disenfranchised. - It was paired with the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, which redrew parliamentary boundaries to create more equal-sized constituencies.   The People Act 1884 (officially the Representation of the People Act 1884) was the UK's Third Reform Act, significantly expanding suffrage by creating a uniform voting system for counties and boroughs, extending the vote to most working men (including agricultural laborers) by enfranchising £10 household or property occupiers, nearly doubling the electorate, but still excluding women. It aimed for a single standard of voting rights across the nation, setting the stage for the subsequent Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 to create modern single-member constituencies. (Assistant)     44th Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1885-1886 (1st term) Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury Elliott & Fry, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons - Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (1830-1903), known as Lord Salisbury, was a British statesman and Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 3 times for a total of over 13 years. - He was also Foreign Secretary before and during most of his tenure. - He avoided international alignments or alliances, maintaining the policy of 'splendid isolation.' - Lord Robert Cecil, later known as Lord Salisbury, was first elected to the House of Commons in 1854 and served as Secretary of State for India in Lord Derby's Conservative government 1866–1867. Robert Gascoyne-Cecil as Elon Musk Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil 1830-1903 2/3  8/22 Prime Minister Elon Reeve Musk 1971  6/28   44th Prime Minister Salisbury - Suffered intense bullying at Eton, leading to his removal and fostering a pessimistic view of democracy. - A deeply empirical leader, he disliked dogma and found delegation difficult, making him a challenging boss and sometimes hindering effective governance. - Presided over the acquisition of vast African territories during the 'Scramble for Africa.' 45th Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1886-1886 (3rd term) William Ewart Gladstone as Duke of Wellington William Ewart Gladstone 1809-1898 12/29   5/19 Prime Minister Arthur Wellesley 1769-1852 5/1   9/14 Prime Minister 45th Prime Minister Murderer of Gordon - A harsh nickname arising from the failure to rescue General Gordon in Sudan. - Anglo-Egyptian War (1882) and Gordon's Expedition (1884-1885): He authorized intervention in Egypt but later faced immense unpopularity and censure for his hesitant response to General Gordon's besieged garrison in Khartoum, which fell before relief arrived. - Saw another attempt at Home Rule pass the Commons but fail in the Lords; he resigned due to declining health.   Brooklyn Daily Eagle - July 14, 1882 - In 1882, Henry Campbell-Bannerman was financial secretary of the war officer under Gladstone and they were buying gunboats to protect British vessels through the Suez Canal. 46th Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1886-1892 (2nd term) Robert Gascoyne-Cecil as Elon Musk Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil 1830-1903 2/3  8/22 Prime Minister Elon Reeve Musk 1971  6/28   46th Prime Minister Salisbury - Successfully forced France to back down in a colonial dispute. - He led Britain to victory in a bitter, controversial war against the Boers. 47th Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1892-1894 (4th term) William Ewart Gladstone as Duke of Wellington William Ewart Gladstone 1809-1898 12/29   5/19 Prime Minister Arthur Wellesley 1769-1852 5/1   9/14 Prime Minister 47th Prime Minister Murderer of Gordon - He often advocated for restraint, non-entanglement, and opposed supporting 'inhuman' powers like the Ottoman Empire against Russia, contrasting with Disraeli. - Saw another attempt at Home Rule pass the Commons but fail in the Lords; he resigned due to declining health. 48th Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1894-1895  Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons - Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, 1st Earl of Midlothian (1847-1929), was a British Liberal Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from March 1894 to June 1895. - Rosebery first came to national attention in 1879 by sponsoring the successful Midlothian campaign of William Ewart Gladstone. - His most successful performance in office came as chairman of the London County Council in 1889. - He entered the Cabinet in 1885 and was twice Foreign Secretary, paying special attention to French and German affairs. - He succeeded Gladstone as prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party in 1894; the Liberals lost the 1895 election. Archibald Philip Primrose as Elon Musk Archibald Philip Primrose 1847-1929 5/7   5/21 Prime Minister Elon Reeve Musk 1971  6/28 48th Prime Minister Rosebery - Suffered greatly from insomnia, using morphine, which affected his ability to lead effectively. - An intelligent idealist with an innate dislike for the bitterness of politics, he reportedly sought 'the palm without the dust,' struggling with the day-to-day grind. - He resigned the party leadership in 1896 and never again held political office. - His short term ended before the major conflicts of the era although he supported colonial expansion and a strong British presence overseas, opposing 'Little England' policies. - Though his time in office was brief and he didn't accomplish much, he fulfilled his ambition to become Prime Minister, alongside marrying an heiress and owning a Derby-winning horse. 49th Prime Minister of United Kingdom 1895-1902 (3rd term) Robert Gascoyne-Cecil as Elon Musk Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil 1830-1903 2/3  8/22 Prime Minister Elon Reeve Musk 1971  6/28   49th Prime Minister Salisbury - Prime Minister during the Second Boer War (1899-1902). - Supported British control of the Transvaal but reluctantly entered the war; focused on diplomacy to avoid conflict. - Retired in 1902, succeeded by his nephew, Arthur Balfour. Northwest Passage  Maritim Greenwich Souvenir Guide, London 1993, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Sir John Franklin was Barrow's reluctant choice to lead the expedition - Franklin's lost expedition was a failed British voyage of Arctic exploration led by Captain Sir John Franklin (1786-1847) that departed England in 1845 during the reign of Queen Victoria. - They set off aboard two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, and were assigned to traverse the last unnavigated sections of the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic and to record magnetic data to help determine whether a better understanding could aid navigation. Great challenges - In 1819, Franklin was chosen to lead the Coppermine expedition overland from Hudson Bay to chart the north coast of Canada eastwards from the mouth of the Coppermine River. - On his 1819 expedition, Franklin fell into the Hayes River at Robinson Falls and was rescued by a member of his expedition about 100 yards downstream. - In 1825, Franklin left for his second Canadian and third Arctic expedition, the Mackenzie River expedition. - In 1845, James Fitzjames was tapped by Sir John Barrow as a potential leader of an expedition to the Northwest Passage, but was instead named as captain of HMS Erebus under Sir John Franklin. Between 1819 and 1822, he lost 11 of the 20 men in his party. Most died of starvation or exhaustion, but there was also at least one murder and suggestions of cannibalism. The survivors were forced to eat lichen and even attempted to eat their own leather boots. This gained Franklin the nickname of "the man who ate his boots." (Wikimedia) Gold Medal of the Société de Géographie of France. - On April 29. 1829, Franklin was knighted by George IV and the same year awarded the first Gold Medal of the Société de Géographie of France. - On January 25, 1836, he was made Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order and a Knight of the Greek Order of the Redeemer. - In 1830 he became captain of HMS Rainbow, stationed in the eastern Mediterranean, then accepted appointment as lieutenant governor of the convict colony, Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in 1837. - He was back in England in June 1844. The Gold Medal of the Société de Géographie of France, often called the "Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations," is one of the society's highest honors for significant contributions to geography and exploration. It was first awarded in 1829 to explorer John Franklin, and notable recipients include David Livingstone, Ernest Shackleton, and Roald Amundsen. The medal recognizes a wide range of achievements, such as discoveries, explorations, and scientific contributions to the field of geography. (Wikimedia) Richard Beard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Commander James Fitzjames in 1845 - Franklin's lost expedition departed England in 1845 and Commander James Fitzjames (1813-1848) commanded the expedition's flagship, HMS Erebus. - Fitzjames had the potential to become the next celebrity explorer as he was young, athletic and handsome; a war hero who did not shy away from public appearances. - He distinguished himself in an ill-conceived expedition to establish a steamship line in Mesopotamia in the 1830s, and in combat during the Egyptian–Ottoman War and the First Opium War. - Isn't it just amazing that we have this old tin-type photo that looks like a Hollywood stage prop, and this was all the way back in 1845? - Does this feel like Star Trek? A daguerreotype of Lieutenant James Fitzjames (later Captain) of the Royal Navy, taken by Richard Beard at his temporary dockside studio in Greenhithe, England, shortly before the Northwest Passage expedition's departure on 19 May 1845. (Wikimedia) Thomas Phillips, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Sir John Franklin 1828 - The expedition met with disaster after both ships and their crews, a total of 129 officers and men, became icebound in Victoria Strait near King William Island in what is today the Canadian territory of Nunavut. - After being icebound for more than a year, the two ships were abandoned in April 1848, by which point 24 men, including Franklin, had died. Maasonic seal - The ship's log records Franklin's death on June 11, 1847. - In 2014 the wreck of the HMS Erebus was discovered in Queen Maud Gulf; two years later, HMS Terror was found near the island's western coast. A purple glass masonic seal was among the relics recovered, and is preserved in the National Maritime Museum. One of Franklin's officers or men was most likely a freemason, but who it was is unknown. (freemasonry.bcy.ca) Sir John Franklin as Rush Limbaugh Sir John Franklin 1786-1847 1/5    6/11 Rush Hudson Limbaugh 1951-2021 1/12   2/17 Coppermine - The survivors, now led by Franklin's second-in-command, Francis Crozier, and Erebus's captain, James Fitzjames, set out for the Canadian mainland and disappeared, presumably having perished. - Fitzjames and 12 others died in the vicinity of Erebus Bay, 50 miles from where they had abandoned the ships. - His remains were rediscovered in 1993 and forensically identified in September 2024. A series of scientific studies in modern times suggested that the men of the expedition did not all die quickly. Hypothermia, starvation, lead poisoning or zinc deficiency and diseases including scurvy, along with general exposure to a hostile environment while lacking adequate clothing and nutrition, killed everyone on the expedition in the years after it was last sighted by a whaling ship in July 1845. Cut marks on some of the bones recovered during these studies also supported allegations of cannibalism reported by Franklin searcher John Rae in 1854. (Wikipedia) Ice bound - Despite the expedition's notorious failure, it did succeed in exploring the vicinity of one of the many Northwest Passages that would eventually be discovered. - Robert McClure led one of the expeditions that investigated the fate of Franklin's expedition, a voyage which was also beset by great challenges and later controversies. - McClure's expedition returned after finding an ice-bound route that connected the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. - The Northwest Passage was not navigated by boat until 1906, when Roald Amundsen traversed the passage on the Gjøa. Byrd claimed to be the first to reach both the North and South Poles by air. However, there is some controversy as to whether he was actually the first person to reach the North Pole. It is generally believed that the distance he claimed to have flown was longer than the possible fuel range of his airplane. (Wikipedia) Captain James Fitzjames as Elon Musk James Fitzjames 1813-1848 7/27   5/? Lost explorer Elon Reeve Musk 1971  6/28 Captain Kirk - Captain James Fitzjames was the illegitimate son of a man with ties to the Navy and an explorer to the Northwest Passage. - Fitzjames goes down in history as a British Royal Navy officer and explorer. Great challenges - Unfortunately, both Franklin and Fitzjames ended up stranded and lost in ice. - Just in time for Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd Jr. (1888-1957) to arrive on the scene and play another Elon hero scene ad nauseum. The 50 incredible journeys include Tenzing and Hillary's conquest of Everest; Neil Armstrong's giant leap; Christopher Columbus' new world; Amelia Earhart flying the Atlantic; gold fever in the Yukon; and the hunt for a man-eating leopard in India. (Assistant) Osborne House - Queen Victoria died at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, at the age of 81. - She was the last monarch of the German House of Hanover to rule Britain, reigning from 1837 to 1901, with her death ending the direct Hanoverian line, which passed to her son Edward VII (House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha) and later the Windsor dynasty. Grimmer Grimmer - The Lost Castle - Page 8

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