William Gladstone resigns as Prime Minister

Background. Gladstone formed a minority Liberal government in 1892, his fourth term as Prime Minister. The Government of Ireland Bill 1893 passed the Commons but was defeated in the House of Lords. In December 1893, an Opposition motion called for Royal Navy expansion. Gladstone opposed this in January 1894, citing his political traditions. He chaired his last Cabinet on 1 March 1894, the 556th he had chaired.

Resignation. Gladstone resigned in March 1894 at age 84, becoming the oldest ever Prime Minister. His final audience with Queen Victoria occurred on 28 February 1894. The resignation followed his refusal to support naval rearmament, which he viewed as breaking his political continuity. He was succeeded by Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, who served as Prime Minister from March 1894 to June 1895.

Succession. Rosebery succeeded Gladstone as Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party in 1894. This succession caused disgust among Sir William Harcourt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and leader of the left-wing Liberals. Rosebery had previously served as Foreign Secretary from 1892 to 1894 and helped Gladstone's Home Rule Bill in the House of Lords, though it was defeated in autumn 1893.