Rosebery, Archibald Philip Primrose, Earl of, 1847-1929

Archibald Philip Primrose, Earl of Rosebery (1847-1929), supporter of Liberal Party and of social reform. Served as foreign secretary, succeeded Gladstone as Prime Minister 1894-1895. Author of Pitt The Younger and owner of racehorses.

From the description of Letter to Arthur Lawrence, 1920 April 15. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 59006762

Prime Minister.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Rosebery, Gorebridge, Midlothian, to S.C. Cockerell, 1914 Aug. 15. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270657582

Archibald Philip Primrose (1847-1929), 5th Earl of Rosebery (succeeded his grandfather 1868), married 1879 Hannah Rothschild (1851-1890), only child of Baron Mayer de Rothschild. Educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. Parliamentary Under Secretary at Home Office 1881-1883, Lord Privy Seal 1885, Foreign Secretary 1886, chairman of London County Council, 1889-1890, Foreign Secretary in Gladstone's Government 1892-1894, Prime Minister 1894-1895, leader of the Liberal Party 1894-1896, formed the Liberal League 1902. He was an advocate of imperial ideas and of reform of the House of Lords. He wrote works on William Pitt (1889), Robert Peel (1899), Napoleon (1900) and Lord Chatham (1910). In 1883-1884 Lord and Lady Rosebery visited Australia and New Zealand where he developed his ideas of imperial relations, based on the concept of a "commonwealth of nations".

From the description of Australian and New Zealand diaries [microform]. 1883-1884. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 225851134

Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, was born in London on May 7, 1847. A graduate of Eton, he went to Oxford but was expelled in 1869, after he purchased a racehorse in violation of the school's behavioral code. He had already inherited the titles of Lord Dalmeny and Earl of Rosebery, along with land and money, when his father and grandfather died. Following his truncated collegiate career, Rosebery took his place in the House of Lords. A member of the Liberal Party, he spearheaded efforts to reconstitute Parliament so that it would be more equitable and balanced. In 1877 he became president of the East and North Scotland Liberal Association. He married Hannah de Rothschild (1851-1890) in 1878, and the couple had four children. In 1894, following the resignation of William Gladstone, Rosebery became Prime Minister of the Liberal government, but his policies were not supported in Parliament and he resigned in June 1895. Rosebery subsequently resigned as head of the Liberal Party, eventually disaffiliating himself from them, and declaring his opposition to Irish Home Rule. He died on May 21, 1929.

From the guide to the Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery journal, Rosebery, Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of journal, 1873, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)