# Third Derby–Disraeli ministry

The Conservative government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland that began in 1866 and ended in 1868 was led by Lord Derby in the House of Lords and Benjamin Disraeli in the House of Commons.

## History

Lord Derby became prime minister for the third time, after the fall of Lord Russell's Liberal government, in 1866. His Chancellor of the Exchequer, Benjamin Disraeli, was instrumental in passing the Second Reform Act in 1867.
After the parliamentary session, which produced the Second Reform Bill, Disraeli's eventual assumption of the leadership of the Conservative Party was all but assured. While he was still opposed by elements of the party's right wing (most notably the Marquess of Salisbury, himself a future prime minister), his role in securing the passage of the bill, in particular his showing against William Ewart Gladstone, had won him the adulation of a wide base of the parliamentary party. The only unknown was the health of the Earl of Derby, still very much prime minister, Conservative leader, and Disraeli's colleague.
Derby's health, however, had been in decline for some time, and he finally resigned in February and advised Queen Victoria to send for Disraeli. Thus on 27 February 1868 Benjamin Disraeli became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He reportedly said of the event later, "I have climbed to the top of the greasy pole." However, the Conservatives were still a minority in the House of Commons, and the enaction of the Reform Bill required the calling of new election. Disraeli's term as prime minister would therefore be fairly short, unless the Conservatives managed to win the general election.
Although all the cabinet posts were at his disposal, Disraeli made only a few changes: he replaced Lord Chelmsford as Lord Chancellor with Lord Cairns, and brought in George Ward Hunt as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Disraeli and Chelmsford had never got on, and in Disraeli's view, Cairns was a far stronger minister. He also chose the Earl of Malmesbury to succeed Derby as Leader in the House of Lords.

### The Irish Church

The principal issue of the 1868 parliamentary session was the Irish Question, manifested this time in the debate over the Anglican Church of Ireland.

### Fate

The Conservatives were defeated by the Liberals in the general election of 1868, and the new Liberal leader William Ewart Gladstone formed his first government.

## Cabinets
### June 1866 – February 1868

| Office | Name | Term |
| First Lord of the Treasury Leader of the House of Lords | The Earl of Derby | June 1866 – February 1868 |
| Lord Chancellor | The Lord Chelmsford | June 1866 – February 1868 |
| Lord President of the Council | The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos | June 1866 – March 1867 |
| Lord President of the Council | The Duke of Marlborough | March 1867 – February 1868 |
| Lord Privy Seal | The Earl of Malmesbury | June 1866 – February 1868 |
| Home Secretary | Spencer H. Walpole | June 1866 – May 1867 |
| Home Secretary | Gathorne Hardy | May 1867 – February 1868 |
| Foreign Secretary | Lord Stanley | June 1866 – February 1868 |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | The Earl of Carnarvon | June 1866 – March 1867 |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos | March 1867 – February 1868 |
| Secretary of State for War | General Jonathan Peel | June 1866 – March 1867 |
| Secretary of State for War | Sir John Pakington, Bt | March 1867 – February 1868 |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | Sir John Pakington, Bt | June 1866 – March 1867 |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | Henry Thomas Lowry-Corry | March 1867 – February 1868 |
| Secretary of State for India | Viscount Cranborne | June 1866 – March 1867 |
| Secretary of State for India | Sir Stafford Northcote, Bt | March 1867 – February 1868 |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer Leader of the House of Commons | Benjamin Disraeli | June 1866 – February 1868 |
| President of the Board of Trade | Sir Stafford Northcote, Bt | June 1866 – March 1867 |
| President of the Board of Trade | The Duke of Richmond and Lennox | March 1867 – February 1868 |
| President of the Poor Law Board | Gathorne Hardy | June 1866 – May 1867 |
| incumbent not in the cabinet ||
| First Commissioner of Works | The Lord John Manners | June 1866 – February 1868 |
| Chief Secretary for Ireland | Lord Naas | June 1866 – February 1868 |
| Minister without Portfolio | Spencer H. Walpole | May 1867 – February 1868 |

#### Notes

* This Cabinet of Derby's is the first for which a complete collection of photographs exists of its members.

#### Changes

* March 1867: Lord Carnarvon, Lord Cranborne, and General Peel resign from the cabinet over the Reform Bill. They are succeeded by the Duke of Buckingham, Sir Stafford Northcote, and Sir John Pakington, respectively. Taking their places were three new members of the cabinet: the Duke of Marlborough, the Duke of Richmond, and Henry Lowry-Corry.
* May 1867: Gathorne Hardy replaces Spencer Walpole as Home Secretary. Walpole remains in the cabinet as Minister without Portfolio. Hardy's replacement as President of the Poor Law Board is not in the cabinet.

### February 1868 – December 1868

| Office | Name | Term |
| First Lord of the Treasury Leader of the House of Commons | Benjamin Disraeli | February–December 1868 |
| Lord Chancellor | The Lord Cairns | February–December 1868 |
| Lord President of the Council | The Duke of Marlborough | February–December 1868 |
| Lord Privy Seal Leader of the House of Lords | The Earl of Malmesbury | February–December 1868 |
| Home Secretary | Gathorne Hardy | February–December 1868 |
| Foreign Secretary | Lord Stanley | February–December 1868 |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | The Duke of Buckingham | February–December 1868 |
| Secretary of State for War | Sir John Pakington, Bt | February–December 1868 |
| Secretary of State for India | Sir Stafford Northcote, Bt | February–December 1868 |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | George Ward Hunt | February–December 1868 |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | Henry Thomas Lowry-Corry | February–December 1868 |
| President of the Board of Trade | The Duke of Richmond | February–December 1868 |
| First Commissioner of Works | The Lord John Manners | February–December 1868 |
| Chief Secretary for Ireland | The Earl of Mayo | February–September 1868 |
| | successor not in the cabinet | successor not in the cabinet |

#### Changes

* September 1868: The Earl of Mayo leaves the cabinet to become Viceroy of India. His successor is not in the cabinet.

## List of ministers

Cabinet members are listed in bold face.
| Office | Name | Date |
| Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury | The Earl of Derby | 28 June 1866 – 25 February 1868 |
| Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury | Benjamin Disraeli | 27 February 1868 – 1 December 1868 |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Benjamin Disraeli | 6 July 1866 |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | George Ward Hunt | 29 February 1868 |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | Thomas Edward Taylor | 14 July 1866 |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | Gerard Noel | 11 November 1868 |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | George Ward Hunt | 14 July 1866 |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | George Sclater-Booth | 4 March 1868 |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | Gerard Noel | 12 July 1866 – 2 November 1868 |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | Sir Graham Graham-Montgomery | 12 July 1866 – 1 December 1868 |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | Henry Whitmore | 12 July 1866 – 1 December 1868 |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | Lord Claud Hamilton | 2 November 1868 – 1 December 1868 |
| Lord Chancellor | The Lord Chelmsford | 6 July 1866 |
| Lord Chancellor | The Lord Cairns | 29 February 1868 |
| Lord President of the Council | The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos | 6 July 1866 |
| Lord President of the Council | The Duke of Marlborough | 8 March 1867 |
| Lord Privy Seal | The Earl of Malmesbury | 6 July 1866 |
| Secretary of State for the Home Department | Spencer Horatio Walpole | 6 July 1866 |
| Secretary of State for the Home Department | Gathorne Hardy | 17 May 1867 |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department | The Earl Belmore | 10 July 1866 |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department | Sir James Fergusson | 1 August 1867 |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department | Sir Michael Hicks Beach | 10 August 1868 |
| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Lord Stanley | 6 July 1866 |
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Edward Egerton | 6 July 1866 |
| Secretary of State for War | Jonathan Peel | 6 July 1866 |
| Secretary of State for War | Sir John Pakington | 8 March 1867 |
| Under-Secretary of State for War | The Earl of Longford | 7 July 1866 |
| Surveyor-General of the Ordnance | vacant | — |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | The Earl of Carnarvon | 6 July 1866 |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos | 8 March 1867 |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies | Charles Adderley | 6 July 1866 |
| Secretary of State for India | Viscount Cranborne | 6 July 1866 |
| Secretary of State for India | Sir Stafford Northcote | 8 March 1867 |
| Under-Secretary of State for India | Sir James Fergusson | 6 July 1866 |
| Under-Secretary of State for India | The Lord Clinton | 31 July 1867 |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | Sir John Pakington | 12 July 1866 |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | Henry Lowry-Corry | 8 March 1867 |
| First Secretary of the Admiralty | Lord Henry Lennox | 16 July 1866 |
| Civil Lord of the Admiralty | Charles du Cane | 12 July 1866 |
| Civil Lord of the Admiralty | Frederick Stanley | 29 August 1868 |
| Chief Secretary for Ireland | Lord Naas | 10 July 1866 |
| Chief Secretary for Ireland | John Wilson-Patten | 29 September 1868 |
| Lord Lieutenant of Ireland | The Marquess of Abercorn | 13 July 1866 |
| President of the Poor Law Board | Gathorne Hardy | 12 July 1866 |
| President of the Poor Law Board | The Earl of Devon | 21 May 1867 |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Poor Law Board | Ralph Earle | 12 July 1866 |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Poor Law Board | George Sclater-Booth | 1 March 1867 |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Poor Law Board | Sir Michael Hicks-Beach | 28 February 1868 |
| Minister without Portfolio | Spencer Horatio Walpole | 17 May 1867 – 1 December 1868 |
| President of the Board of Trade | Sir Stafford Northcote | 6 July 1866 |
| President of the Board of Trade | The Duke of Richmond | 8 March 1867 |
| Vice-President of the Board of Trade | Stephen Cave | 10 July 1866 |
| First Commissioner of Works | Lord John Manners | 6 July 1866 |
| Vice-President of the Committee on Education | Henry Lowry-Corry | 12 July 1866 |
| Vice-President of the Committee on Education | Lord Robert Montagu | 19 March 1867 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | The Earl of Devon | 10 July 1866 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | John Wilson-Patten | 26 June 1867 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Thomas Edward Taylor | 7 November 1868 |
| Paymaster General | Stephen Cave | 10 July 1866 |
| Postmaster-General | The Duke of Montrose | 19 July 1866 |
| Attorney General | Sir Hugh Cairns | 10 July 1866 |
| Attorney General | Sir John Rolt | 29 October 1866 |
| Attorney General | Sir John Burgess Karslake | 18 July 1867 |
| Solicitor General | Sir William Bovill | 10 July 1866 |
| Solicitor General | Sir John Burgess Karslake | 29 November 1866 |
| Solicitor General | Sir Charles Hasper Selwyn | 18 July 1867 |
| Solicitor General | Sir William Brett | 10 February 1868 |
| Solicitor General | Sir Richard Baggallay | 16 September 1868 |
| Judge Advocate General | John Mowbray | 12 July 1866 |
| Lord Advocate | George Patton | 12 July 1866 |
| Lord Advocate | Edward Gordon | 28 February 1867 |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Edward Gordon | 12 July 1866 |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | John Millar | 6 March 1867 |
| Attorney General for Ireland | John Edward Walsh | 25 July 1866 |
| Attorney General for Ireland | Michael Morris | 1 November 1866 |
| Attorney General for Ireland | Hedges Eyre Chatterton | 1867 |
| Attorney General for Ireland | Robert Warren | 1867 |
| Attorney General for Ireland | John Thomas Ball | 1868 |
| Solicitor General for Ireland | Michael Morris | 3 August 1866 |
| Solicitor General for Ireland | Hedges Eyre Chatterton | 8 November 1866 |
| Solicitor General for Ireland | Robert Warren | 1867 |
| Solicitor General for Ireland | Michael Harrison | 1867 |
| Solicitor General for Ireland | John Thomas Ball | 1868 |
| Solicitor General for Ireland | Henry Ormsby | 1868 |
| Lord Steward of the Household | The Duke of Marlborough | 10 July 1866 |
| Lord Steward of the Household | The Earl of Tankerville | 19 March 1867 |
| Lord Chamberlain of the Household | The Earl of Bradford | 10 July 1866 |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Lord Claud Hamilton | 10 July 1866 |
| Treasurer of the Household | Lord Burghley | 10 July 1866 |
| Treasurer of the Household | Percy Egerton Herbert | 27 February 1867 |
| Comptroller of the Household | Viscount Royston | 10 July 1866 |
| Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms | The Earl of Tankerville | 10 July 1866 |
| Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms | The Marquess of Exeter | 20 March 1867 |
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | The Earl Cadogan | 10 July 1866 |
| Master of the Buckhounds | The Lord Colville of Culross | 10 July 1866 |
| Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal | Lord Alfred Paget | 1 July 1859 |
| Mistress of the Robes | The Duchess of Wellington | 25 April 1861 |
| Lords in Waiting | The Viscount Strathallan | 13 July 1866 – 1 December 1868 |
| Lords in Waiting | The Viscount Hawarden | 13 July 1866 – 1 December 1868 |
| Lords in Waiting | The Lord Bagot | 13 July 1866 – 1 December 1868 |
| Lords in Waiting | The Lord Polwarth | 13 July 1866 – 16 August 1867 |
| Lords in Waiting | The Lord Crofton | 13 July 1866 – 1 December 1868 |
| Lords in Waiting | The Lord Skelmersdale | 13 July 1866 – 1 December 1868 |
| Lords in Waiting | The Lord Raglan | 13 July 1866 – 1 December 1868 |
| Lords in Waiting | The Earl of Haddington | 7 September 1867 – 1 December 1868 |

### Notes

* ↑ Also Leader of the House of Lords.
* ↑ Also Leader of the House of Commons.
* ↑ Also Leader of the House of Commons.
* ↑ Also Leader of the House of Lords 27 February 1868 – 1 December 1868.
* ↑ Succeeded as the 7th Earl of Mayo in 1867.
* ↑ Office abolished 12 August 1867 and replaced with a Parliamentary Secretaryship.
* ↑ Continued in office; no longer a political appointment after 1866.
* ↑ Continued in office.