Churchill, LORD RANDOLPH HENRY SPENCER

Churchill, LORD RANDOLPH HENRY SPENCER, third son of the seventh Duke of Marlborough, was born on February 13, 1849, and educated at Eton and Merton College, Oxford. Lord Randolph was first returned for Woodstock in 1874; but it was not until after the general election of 1880 that he became prominent in politics, when he appeared as the leader of a guerilla band of Conservatives known as the 'Fourth Party.' He was frequently in collision with his leaders on questions of party organisation and the conduct of the Opposition; but his vigorous attacks on Mr Gladstone's policy, both foreign and domestic, were of unquestionable value to the Conservative cause. Towards the end of Mr Gladstone's ministry Lord Randolph began to have a considerable following among the younger Conservatives, who regarded him as the future leader of the Tory Democracy. After a plucky attempt to defeat Mr Bright at Birmingham in 1885, Lord Randolph was returned for South Paddington. He was Secretary for India in Lord Salisbury's first ministry (June 1885–January 1886), his period of office being marked by the annexation of Burma. From July to December 1886 he was Chancellor of the Exchequer and leader of the House of Commons, when he resigned, being resolved, as he wrote to Lord Salisbury, to sacrifice himself on the altar of thrift and economy. Still on most points he spoke and voted on the Conservative side. In 1892, after a tour in South Africa, he was re-elected, and in spite of enfeebled health was recognised as one of the leaders of the Conservative party. He died 24th January 1895. In 1874 he had married Miss Jerome, a New York lady. See his Life by Scott (1895).