Signed: "T.STEVENS COVENTRY" on back at pointed end:
Stevens woven name on the reverse pointed end of this bookmark
For information, other Gladstone favours can be found as:-
Rt. Hon. W.E. Gladstone / The Champion of Liberty (portrait facing half-right) - sb1740
Rt. Hon. W.E. Gladstone / The Champion of Liberty (portrait facing full right) - sb1744
William Ewart Gladstone. Born 1809 and died 1898.
Elected to parliament in 1832, initially as a Conservative, he changed sides and became a Liberal.
He was a Liberal Prime Minister in 1868-1874; 1880-1885; 1886; and 1892-1894.
During his first Premiership, he dis-established the Irish Church (in 1869), introduced the Education Act (in 1870), introduced the Irish Land Act (also in 1870) and introduced secret ballots with the Ballot Act. He was defeated in the 1874 General Election and resigned the leadership of the Liberal Party.
He was re-elected to Parliament in 1880, and immediately became Prime Minister. During this Premiership, he introduced the second Irish Land Act (in 1881). Failure however to save General Gordon from death at Khartoum in 1885 led to Gladstone's resignation.
Gladstone was then converted to the notion of Irish Home Rule, and in both his last Premierships he introduced Home Rule Bills (in 1886 and in 1893). Both however were rejected.
Gladstone was considered an impressive speaker, and he and his Conservative opponent, Disraeli, both dominated the British political scene in the second half of both the 19th century, and of Queen Victoria's reign.
Below is an image of a point of sale display, with this election badge and two others for sale at One Penny Each (that is, when there were 240 penny to the pound)
