The Earl of Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli Essay -- nineteenth centur

The Earl of Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli was one of the great political minds of the nineteenth century. He helped bring Great Britain through effects of the Industrial Revolution, and maintain a large empire. Though his efforts the workers’ rights were enlarged, and England was able to peacefully transition to democracy. Disraeli, a commoner by birth, was yet an aristocrat in ideology. Through this unique combination of ideals, Disraeli was able navigate Britain through the mid nineteenth century, restore prestige to the monarchy and aristocracy, and enlarge the rights of the commoner. Disraeli sought to preserve the interests of the ruling aristocracy, and maintain the English predominance and freedom in the world. In this regard Disraeli was similar to many of the Tory aristocracy of the eighteenth and nineteenth century who sought to hold onto their power. Members of this class, such as James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardiganand George Bingham, 3rd Earl of Lucan, disliked any kind of political reform, and sought to hold their power in parliament against the radical Whigs. As a member of a noble family that sought to protect him, James Brudenell was discouraged from entering into military service, but instead, though his father’s influence, obtained and place in the House of Commons. Brudenell was a Member of Parliament for several years, until the 1832 election, when, because of the passage of the Reform Bill, he had to fight a difficult and bitter fight and campaign to hold his seat in Parliament . From Parliament, Bundenell was able to make use of the purchase system to fulfill his lifelong ambition of making a career in the army. From there he took control of the 15th Hussars and made them into his model infantr... ...ower and avoid revolution. Thus, through social reforms Disraeli, in the last half of the nineteenth century, was able to navigate through the waters of power though appeals to the commoner. Similar to Disraeli, Lord Lucan’s son saw the necessity humanity to those in the lower classes, and extended humanitarian efforts to his estates in Ireland. Disraeli, the lonely Christian Jew, was truly a great leader of the nineteenth century. He assisted in preserving the empire, creating a sense of British pride, and providing reform to the government, while maintain his principles and identity. Works Cited Smith, Paul. Disraeli, A Brief Life. Cambridge: University Press,Cambridge, 1996. Woodham-Smith, Cecil. The Reason Why. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1954. Youngs, Fredric. The English Heritage. Vol. 2. 2 vols. Wheeling, IL: Harlan Davidson, 1999.