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C.B.: A Life of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Henry Campbell-Bannerman. who now seems a remote figure, died at No. 10 Downing Street only sixty-five years ago. He had known the extremes of political failure and success. At one time he was execrated as a man who was said to sympathise with the enemies of his country. He was denounced day after day in The Times and his company was shunned by his Sovereign. But within four years of this he led the Liberal Party to its most overwhelming victory, and overnight became an immensely popular Prime Minister, with a unique position in the House of Commons. Today most people have never heard of him, and those who have tend to class him as a dim personality.
Yet the truth is that Campbell-Bannerman, or C.B. as he was always called, was a singularly attractive and interesting man. He was, moreover, an unusual person to emerge as the leader of a great political party in England, or indeed to be a politician at all, for he was easy-going and had little ambition. However desperate the political situation, he departed every autumn for ix weeks at the spa of Marienbad in Bohemia.
He became Prime Minister in 1905 and in his two years at No. 10 he presided over an Administration which contained three future Prime Asquith, Lloyd George, and Winston Churchill. Perhaps his greatest achievement was the South African settlement, which turned Botha and Smuts into life-long friends of England and resulted in South Africa joining this country in two world wars.
When Campbell-Bannerman died in 1908 the leaders of the Liberal Party paid the warmest tributes to his courage, idealism, shrewdness and tenacity. But the Tories, led by Balfour, thought it absurd that a monument should be erected to him in Westminster Abbey. When there are such widely differing contemporary opinions of a statesman it is appropriate to make a new assessment. This is a first life of Campbell-Bannerman to appear since 1923, since when many new papers have become available. John Wilson reveals him as a much more considerable -- and charming -- character than many people suppose.
Yet the truth is that Campbell-Bannerman, or C.B. as he was always called, was a singularly attractive and interesting man. He was, moreover, an unusual person to emerge as the leader of a great political party in England, or indeed to be a politician at all, for he was easy-going and had little ambition. However desperate the political situation, he departed every autumn for ix weeks at the spa of Marienbad in Bohemia.
He became Prime Minister in 1905 and in his two years at No. 10 he presided over an Administration which contained three future Prime Asquith, Lloyd George, and Winston Churchill. Perhaps his greatest achievement was the South African settlement, which turned Botha and Smuts into life-long friends of England and resulted in South Africa joining this country in two world wars.
When Campbell-Bannerman died in 1908 the leaders of the Liberal Party paid the warmest tributes to his courage, idealism, shrewdness and tenacity. But the Tories, led by Balfour, thought it absurd that a monument should be erected to him in Westminster Abbey. When there are such widely differing contemporary opinions of a statesman it is appropriate to make a new assessment. This is a first life of Campbell-Bannerman to appear since 1923, since when many new papers have become available. John Wilson reveals him as a much more considerable -- and charming -- character than many people suppose.
- GenresNonfiction
718 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1973
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August 28, 2019
Sir Henry-Campbell Bannerman was a man known as C.B. to all friends, foes, and constituents. It
was easier than his long hyphenated name. This dour Scot at the end of his life ascended atop the
greasy pole and became Prime Minister in 1905-1908.
He was a guy whose geniality gave a few the idea that he was pushover. Nothing could be further
from the truth as many discovered. He was born in 1836 to a prominent Glasgow family who were
in the iron mongering business. At age 32 in 1868 he was elected to Parliament representing Glasgow
suburb Stirling Burghs which he represented the rest of his life. It was as a Liberal and he held office
during the Liberal Gladstone and Rosebery administrations.
When the Tories won a big victory in 1895 there was a need of leadership since those in the party
above C.B. had a lot of enemies. He became leader of his party in the House of Commons.
It was thought at the time that he would be a caretaker leader until someone new with more charisma came up through the ranks. It didn't turn out that way as the Boer War started. At first
the parties were pretty united on the war. But gradually many in the Liberal Party broke away and
split the party nicely. C.B. as house leader after a lot of soul searching joined the opposition, characterizing the war as run by 'methods of barbarism'. The British during the Boer War invented the term concentration camp where they rounded up the Boer civilians and put them in
camps. They concentrated them. They were not run well though they were not execution and
extermination factories that Nazi Germany made them.
Still opposition reversed British politics and the Liberals were big victors in 1905. C.B. was only in
office until 1908 dying of throat cancer.
He died a much loved figure in Great Britain. A decent man known for his decency in the rough and tumble world of British politics. We could use more like him.
was easier than his long hyphenated name. This dour Scot at the end of his life ascended atop the
greasy pole and became Prime Minister in 1905-1908.
He was a guy whose geniality gave a few the idea that he was pushover. Nothing could be further
from the truth as many discovered. He was born in 1836 to a prominent Glasgow family who were
in the iron mongering business. At age 32 in 1868 he was elected to Parliament representing Glasgow
suburb Stirling Burghs which he represented the rest of his life. It was as a Liberal and he held office
during the Liberal Gladstone and Rosebery administrations.
When the Tories won a big victory in 1895 there was a need of leadership since those in the party
above C.B. had a lot of enemies. He became leader of his party in the House of Commons.
It was thought at the time that he would be a caretaker leader until someone new with more charisma came up through the ranks. It didn't turn out that way as the Boer War started. At first
the parties were pretty united on the war. But gradually many in the Liberal Party broke away and
split the party nicely. C.B. as house leader after a lot of soul searching joined the opposition, characterizing the war as run by 'methods of barbarism'. The British during the Boer War invented the term concentration camp where they rounded up the Boer civilians and put them in
camps. They concentrated them. They were not run well though they were not execution and
extermination factories that Nazi Germany made them.
Still opposition reversed British politics and the Liberals were big victors in 1905. C.B. was only in
office until 1908 dying of throat cancer.
He died a much loved figure in Great Britain. A decent man known for his decency in the rough and tumble world of British politics. We could use more like him.
Displaying 1 of 1 review