# Mr. Gladstone — Queen Victoria character guide

> Mr. Gladstone in Queen Victoria by Lytton Strachey.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** William Ewart Gladstone

**First appearance:** 0044-viii-gladstone-and-lord-beaconsfield

## Who they are

Liberal statesman and frequent Prime Minister.

## Relationships

### [Queen Victoria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters/queen_victoria)

_rivalry_

Victoria's least favorite prime minister, whose moralizing style and liberal policies deeply irritated her.

### [Queen Victoria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters/queen_victoria)

_rivalry_

Victoria's least favorite prime minister, whose moralizing style and liberal policies deeply irritated her.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned as a potential democratic leader who might have rallied forces against an autocratic monarchy.

### [VIII: Gladstone and Lord Beaconsfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/viii-gladstone-and-lord-beaconsfield)

Gladstone's reforms and impersonal reverence alienate Victoria, who dislikes being treated as an institution rather than a woman.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/i)

Victoria's antagonist; his liberal reforms and formal, public-meeting style of address deeply displease her, though she ultimately complies with his policies.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/ii)

As Prime Minister, he defends the Crown against republican attacks and motions for financial inquiry, though Victoria remains ungrateful.

### [The Faery and the Prime Minister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iii)

Mentioned as the previous Prime Minister whose formal, constitutional approach contrasted with Disraeli's personal style. His Liberal government was defeated in the 1874 election, leading to Disraeli's return.

### [Old Age](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/ix-old-age)

Mentioned as a great Minister who held power during the decline of the Crown's influence.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/ii)

Victoria's Prime Minister whose second administration ended in failure, with the Queen openly opposing his policies.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iii)

Noted as one of the ministers whom Victoria, in her later years, invariably asked to sit down.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters/mr_gladstone
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters