Benjamin Disraeli

British statesman and novelist of the 19th century

16 quotes in the MindQuotes library.

About

Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) was a British statesman and writer. Born in London to an Italian-Jewish family, he was baptized into the Church of England in 1817. He became a Conservative MP in 1837 and served three times as Chancellor of the Exchequer. He was Prime Minister twice, briefly in 1868 and then from 1874 to 1880. His second term was marked by social reforms and the purchase of Suez Canal shares. He was also a prolific novelist, author of the political trilogy Coningsby, Sybil, and Tancred.

Major works

  • Vivian Grey (1826)novel
  • Coningsby (1844)novel
  • Sybil; or, The Two Nations (1845)novel
  • Tancred (1847)novel
  • Endymion (1880)novel

Key milestones

  • 1868Becomes Prime Minister for the first time
  • 1875Passes the Public Health Act and the Artisans' Dwellings Act
  • 1876Secures control of Suez Canal shares and confers the title Empress of India on Queen Victoria

Themes

PoliticsSocietySocial reformBritish EmpireIdentity

Sources: gov.uk · api.parliament.uk · oxfordreference.com