Churchill, Lord Randolph Henry Spencer

b. 1849; d. 1895

British politician, the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough: educated at Eton and Merton College, Oxford. In April 1874 he married the daughter of Leonard Jerome of New York, and in the same year he became Tory MP for Woodstock. In 1878 he bitterly attacked what he described as the 'old gang' of the Tory party, though he generally supported the policy of the Conservative government. The crushing blow which the Tories received at the general election of 1880, however, led to the formation of the Fourth Party. This party, founded and led by Lord Randolph, had for its object the vindication of Conservative principles and the harassing of the 'old gang', especially Sir Stafford Northcote. By this time Churchill's speeches throughout the country had obtained for himself prominence as a politician and leadership in his own party. He began to advocate openly his principles of 'Tory democracy'.

In Salisbury's first administration he was secretary of state for India. After the defeat of the Home Rule Bill and the disintegration of the Liberal party, he became chancellor of the Exchequer and leader of the House of Commons. His resignation in six months was due to his inability as chancellor to acquiesce in the vote for supplies for the army and navy, and he probably thought that the mere threat of resignation would bring the government to their knees. He was mistaken; his resignation was accepted, and the ministry continued and flourished. Subsequently ill-health prevented him from taking an active part in politics.

© JM Dent/Historybookshop.com