5th December 1905 – United Kingdom Gets Its First Prime Minister
On this day, 5th December 1905, Henry Campbell-Bannerman, the Member of Parliament for Stirling Burghs and leader of the Liberal Party began a two and a half year term as United Kingdom’s first ‘Prime Minister’, one of the most recognised titles in modern world politics. Robert Walpole may have been the original First Lord of the Treasury in the eighteenth century, but it was not until 1905 that it was given the status of official title.
Born in Glasgow in 1836, Henry Campbell was raised in a political family. His father, Sir James Campbell, was a former Lord Provost of Glasgow, and brother James was a Conservative MP. Henry stood as a Liberal candidate for Stirling in an 1865 by-election, only to lose to John Ramsay. However, later that year, he was to taste victory in the General Election, and would keep the Stirling Burgh's seat for nearly forty years.
The Bannerman suffix to his name was derived from his uncle, Henry Bannerman. Henry Campbell inherited the estate of Hunton Court in Kent in 1871, with a requirement being a change of surname to Campbell-Bannerman.
His service to Stirling was recognised in 1895, when he was made a Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Bath.
In 1899, he became leader of the Liberal Party, and in 1905 became the oldest person to be Prime Minister (or First Lord of the Treasury) for the first time, leading firstly a minority administration, before guiding the party to their largest ever majority in the 1906 General Election. Policies were deeply rooted in social reform, testament to Campbell-Bannerman’s beliefs in improvement of social conditions. As well as this, he was a firm believer in free trade, Irish Home Rule and peace.
Aside from the title of Prime Minister, the legacy that remains through to the modern day from the government at the time was the Probation Act 1907. This placed down the foundations for the modern probation service where prisoners are released under observation rather than incarcerated.
Henry resigned in April 1908 due to ill health, but continued to live at 10 Downing Street. Shortly after, he passed away, and to this day is the only former Prime Minister to die within the building.
A true Liberal, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman no doubt helped shape Stirling’s development during the late nineteenth century. Today, his statue stands tall on the Corn Exchange close to the Municipal Buildings, overlooking the city that he served for nearly four decades.
Born in Glasgow in 1836, Henry Campbell was raised in a political family. His father, Sir James Campbell, was a former Lord Provost of Glasgow, and brother James was a Conservative MP. Henry stood as a Liberal candidate for Stirling in an 1865 by-election, only to lose to John Ramsay. However, later that year, he was to taste victory in the General Election, and would keep the Stirling Burgh's seat for nearly forty years.
The Bannerman suffix to his name was derived from his uncle, Henry Bannerman. Henry Campbell inherited the estate of Hunton Court in Kent in 1871, with a requirement being a change of surname to Campbell-Bannerman.
His service to Stirling was recognised in 1895, when he was made a Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Bath.
In 1899, he became leader of the Liberal Party, and in 1905 became the oldest person to be Prime Minister (or First Lord of the Treasury) for the first time, leading firstly a minority administration, before guiding the party to their largest ever majority in the 1906 General Election. Policies were deeply rooted in social reform, testament to Campbell-Bannerman’s beliefs in improvement of social conditions. As well as this, he was a firm believer in free trade, Irish Home Rule and peace.
Aside from the title of Prime Minister, the legacy that remains through to the modern day from the government at the time was the Probation Act 1907. This placed down the foundations for the modern probation service where prisoners are released under observation rather than incarcerated.
Henry resigned in April 1908 due to ill health, but continued to live at 10 Downing Street. Shortly after, he passed away, and to this day is the only former Prime Minister to die within the building.
A true Liberal, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman no doubt helped shape Stirling’s development during the late nineteenth century. Today, his statue stands tall on the Corn Exchange close to the Municipal Buildings, overlooking the city that he served for nearly four decades.