HERBERT JOHN GLADSTONE, VISCOUNT GLADSTONE
Born in 1854 to former Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, Herbert John Gladstone was raised in 12 Downing Street whilst his father served as chancellor of the exchequer. Educated at Eton College, he was well liked and high-spirited without directly distinguishing himself. He went on to study classical moderations and modern history at University College, Oxford, in time becoming a professor of modern history at the newly established Keble College. His father encouraged all his children to become involved in politics and insisted they became apprenticed by acting as his political secretary. This involved both Downing Street affairs and matters at the family home, Hawarden Castle. Herbert became MP for Leeds after a by-election in 1880 and sat for 30 years.

Herbert was appointed financial secretary to the War Office during his father’s third time in office in 1886. He eventually became well established during the last government in 1892 whilst serving as under-secretary at the Home Office to H. H. Asquith; he thus positioned himself well to play a key role in the Liberal Party after his father’s retirement. 1899 saw Gladstone’s appointment as chief Liberal whip which exhibited his skills in looking beyond the day-to-day business of the party. On one occasion he prevented a detrimental split within the party over matters relating to the South African War.
Perhaps not respected for his irritability by the family, Gladstone was admired for his straightforward and sensible character.

Portraying a passion for music and multiple sports, he acted as president of the Physical Recreation Society for many years and was on the council for the Royal College of Music. Along with his brother he actively took close operation in managing the Hawarden estate. Aged forty-seven Gladstone married Sir Richard Horner Paget’s youngest daughter Dorothy Mary in 1901, the present lot being a wedding gift presented to Herbert by his friend and supporter Sir James Blythe.

Upon the Liberals' return to office in 1905, Sir Herbert was made Home Secretary by Campbell-Bannerman. He carried through 22 bills, of which many dealt with long outstanding matters within the party. An offer of Governor-General of South Africa ceased Gladstone’s position as Home Secretary in 1909 and his knowledge of the country’s complex political and social history acquired during his time acting as his father’s secretary was put to great use.

One of his first duties was to oversee the opening on the Union of South Africa's parliament in Cape Town in the autumn of 1910. King George V, who had himself been appointed to represent King Edward VII at the ceremony until the latter's death in May 1910, sent his uncle, the Duke of Connaught as the representative of the crown. The Duke sailed to the Cape in the newly built Union Castle Line steamer S.S. Balmoral Castle escorted by the cruiser H.M.S. Defense. During the trip the duke travelled over 18,000 miles across southern Africa. He invested Gladstone the Order of the Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George and presented him with the present lot, a massive two-handled cup and cover in the early 18th century style.

Gladstone's term of office came to an end in 1914 and he returned to England. During the First World War he worked on many public projects staying out of front line politics, although he maintained his contacts with the Liberal Party. He made extensive biographical notes planning to complete his autobiography in his later years, but they remained unpublished, a fate identical to his father's autobiography. Sir Herbert died of pneumonia at his home Dane End in 1930.