Second Gladstone ministry

Second Gladstone ministry
1880–1885
Gladstone (1879)
Date formed	23 April 1880 (1880-04-23)
Date dissolved	9 June 1885 (1885-06-09)
People and organisations
Monarch	Victoria
Prime Minister	William Gladstone
Total no. of members	118 appointments
Member party	Liberal Party
Status in legislature	Majority
Opposition party	Conservative Party
Opposition leaders	Sir Stafford Northcote in the House of Commons Lord Beaconsfield (1880–1881) Lord Salisbury (1881–1885) in the House of Lords
History
Election	1880 general election
Legislature terms	22nd UK Parliament lost a vote of confidence
Predecessor	Second Disraeli ministry
Successor	First Salisbury ministry

After campaigning against the foreign policy of the Beaconsfield ministry, William Gladstone led the Liberal Party to victory in the 1880 general election. The nominal leader of the Party, Lord Hartington, resigned in Gladstone's favour and Gladstone was appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for a second time by Queen Victoria. He pursued a policy of parliamentary reform, but his government became wildly unpopular after the death of General Gordon in 1885. Gladstone was held responsible, and resigned, leaving the way free for the Conservatives under Lord Salisbury to form a government.