BENJAMIN DISRAELI.
THE RIGHT HONORABLE BENJAMIN DISRAELI was born in London, England, December 21, 1804, and he died in London, April 19, 1881, at the age of seventy-six.
His father was Mr. Isaac D'Israeli, a man of great ability. The father belonged to a Jewish family that had been driven from Spain by the Inquisition. The family settled in Venice about the close of the fifteenth century, and assumed the now famous name of D'Israeli.
Benjamin Disraeli was most fortunate in his parentage. The son of a literary genius, he had all the opportunities for culture that books and teachers and paternal encouragement could give. Having secured an excellent education privately, he was placed in a solicitor's office that he might acquire a knowledge of business. As in the case of his father, Benjamins inclinations were for literature, not business. Encouraged in his inclinations, he appeared as an author in 1826, in a novel entitled "Vivian Grey." The two volumes which appeared at first were increased by a second part the next year. "Vivian Grey" became at once the book of the season and the talk of the town. Referring so directly to public men, society and character in high life, it was read with eagerness by nearly all classes.
In 1828 his vein of sarcasm was continued in "The Voyage of Captain Popanilla," an adaptation of Swift's "Gulliver" to modern times and circumstances. He next traveled through Italy, Greece, visited Constantinople, and explored Syria, Egypt and Nubia. Upon his return to England he commenced to take part in politics; but we will give an outline of his literary and political work separately. From 1830 to 1833 he produced "The Young Duke," "Contarini Fleming," "The Wondrous Tale of Alroy," "The Rise of Iskander," "Ikion in Heaven," etc. In 1834 appeared in quarto "The Revolutionary Epick," a poem which is considered about the poorest of his writings. "Henrietta Temple," "A Love Story," and "Venetia" were published in 1836-37; "Alcaros," a tragedy, in 1839; 1844-45 two successful semi-political novels, "Coningsby, or the New Generation," and "Sybil, or the Two Nations;" 1847, "Tancred, or the New Crusade." This work closed Disraeli's career as a novelist for twenty-four years. His next work was a volume entitled "Lord George Bentinck, a Political Biography," published in 1851. In 1870 he again came forward with the novel "Lothair." His literary life closed with "Endymion."
It remains now for us to tell the story of his political life. Upon his return from the tour which we have already described, he commenced to mingle in politics. Desiring a seat in parliament, he made two unsuccessful attempts as an extreme Reformer, and one as a Conservative. Three times defeated, he finally became the leader of the party known as "Young England." This party proposed to look to the young men of England for national reform and prosperity. About 1837 Disraeli was sent to parliament from the borough of Maidstone, along with Mr. Wyndham Lewis, who died in 1838. In the following year, Disraeli married the widow of his
late colleague, who, in 1868, was elevated to the peerage with the title of Viscountess Beaconsfield.
His first speech was looked for with much interest. Having become famous as a writer, and having made numerous threats against leaders of the opposition, which gave them to understand that they might expect a warm
contest if ever he reached parliament, the members of that body expected he could make them considerable amusement, if he did not gain a complete
triumph. At the appointed time he commenced his speech, which in style and delivery so resembled Disraeli's oriental magnificence as to excite shouts of derisive laughter. Fairly broken down, he took his seat with the prophetic statement: " I have begun several times many things, and have often
succeeded at last. I shall sit down now, but the time will come when you will near me." He profited by the failure, and, determined to avenge the
wrongs done him, he commenced a thorough discipline which finally enabled him to become the leader in that trying arena where he first failed. It was Jeffrey's assault on Byron which first woke to activity the powers of that great genius; so the derisive laughter that greeted Disraeli's first speech was the birth-pang of his statesmanship. "He came furious to life, ready-armed like Minerva, blazing in sudden light and deadly power, with a quiver full of poisoned arrows, an unsheathed sword which cut wherever it touched." He soon became conspicuous as a debater. His opponents were handled with great severity. Sir Robert Peel, because of his views on the question of handling the trade interests of England, "was assaulted night after night by Disraeli in speeches memorable for their bitterness, their concentrated sarcasm, and studied invective." In 1851 he was made Chancellor of the Exchequer, but retired with his party in less than a year. Upon Lord Derby's return to power in 1858, he also returned to his old position. At the close of a year the administration was overthrown, and Disraeli retired. In 1868, he was appointed first Lord of the Treasury, or Premier, a position he held till the administration was changed to that of Mr. Gladstone. In 1874 he was again restored to the high office of First Minister of the Crown, and in 1876 he was called to the House of Lords as Earl of Beaconsfield, a title conferred upon him after the death of his wife, the Vicountess of Beaconsfield.
His life as a man of letters, and his efforts as a politician and debater were crowned with brilliant success, and he takes his place in history as one of the most remarkable men of his time.
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