Joseph Chamberlain
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The Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain |
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Joseph Chamberlain in 1909.
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| Leader of the Opposition in the Commons | |
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In office 8 February 1906 – 27 February 1906 |
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| Monarch | Edward VII |
| Prime Minister | Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman |
| Preceded by | Arthur Balfour |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Balfour |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | |
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In office 29 June 1895 – 16 September 1903 |
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| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | The Marquess of Ripon |
| Succeeded by | Alfred Lyttelton |
| President of the Local Government Board | |
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In office 1 February 1886 – 3 April 1886 |
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| Prime Minister | William Ewart Gladstone |
| Preceded by | Arthur Balfour |
| Succeeded by | James Stansfeld |
| President of the Board of Trade | |
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In office 3 May 1880 – 9 June 1885 |
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| Prime Minister | William Ewart Gladstone |
| Preceded by | Viscount Sandon |
| Succeeded by | The Duke of Richmond |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
8 July 1836 Camberwell, Surrey, England |
| Died | 2 July 1914 (aged 77) Birmingham, England |
| Resting place | Key Hill Cemetery, Birmingham |
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| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | |
| Education | University College School |
| Profession | Businessman |
| Religion | British Unitarian |
| Signature |  |
| Nickname(s) | "Our Joe" |
Joseph Chamberlain (8 July 1836 – 2 July 1914) was a British politician and statesman, who was first a radical Liberal then, after opposing Home Rule for Ireland, a Liberal Unionist, eventually serving as a leading imperialist in coalition with the Conservatives. He split both major British parties in the course of his career.
From the 1895 general election the Liberal Unionists were in coalition with the Conservative Party, under Chamberlain's former opponent Lord Salisbury. In that government Chamberlain promoted the Workmen's Compensation Act 1897. He served as Secretary of State for the Colonies, promoting a variety of schemes to build up the Empire in Asia, Africa, and the West Indies. He had major responsibility for causing the Second Boer War (1899–1902) in South Africa and was the government official most responsible for the war effort. He became a dominant figure in the Unionist Government's re-election at the "Khaki Election" in 1900. In 1903, he resigned from the Cabinet to campaign for tariff reform (i.e. taxes on imports as opposed to the existing policy of free trade with no tariffs). He obtained the support of most Unionist MPs for this stance, it suffered a landslide defeat at the 1906 general election. Shortly after public celebrations of his 70th birthday in Birmingham, he was disabled by a stroke, ending his public career.
Despite never becoming Prime Minister, he was one of the most important British politicians of his day, as well as a renowned orator and municipal reformer. Historian David Nicholls notes that his personality was not attractive: he was arrogant and ruthless and much hated. He never succeeded in his grand ambitions. However, he was a highly proficient grassroots organizer of democratic instincts, and played the central role in winning the Second Boer War. He is most famous for setting the agenda of British colonial, foreign, tariff and municipal policies, and for deeply splitting both major political parties.
Chamberlain was born in Camberwell, then in Surrey to a successful shoe manufacturer also named Joseph (1796–1874), and his wife Caroline Harben, daughter of Henry Harben. His younger brother was Richard Chamberlain, later also a Liberal politician. He was educated at University College School 1850–1852, excelling academically and gaining prizes in French and mathematics.
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