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The Museum
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3rd Marquis of Salisbury, Robert Cecil
1830-1902
The three-times Conservative Prime Minister, Robert Cecil, the 3rd Marquis of Salisbury ranks as one of our most esteemed clients. Despite his reputation as a vigorous debater and astute politician in the House, Salisbury was well known for his distant manner away from it. It is said that at one state occasion he espied a youthful figure smiling at him. "And who is our young friend?" he asked a neighbour. "Your eldest son." he was informed.
In the early days of his political career he was a habitual nay-sayer, being opposed to such wide ranging measures as the admittance of Jews to parliament, the second Reform Act of 1867, the building of the Thames embankment, and even the mooted plan for a museum in Kensington.
Although apparently not always able to recognise his family he was not averse to promoting their political ambitions. The meteoric rise through the ranks of his (by all accounts quite average) nephew, Arthur Balfour, inspired the phrase "and Bob's your uncle".
After long spells as both Secretary for India and later Foreign Secretary, Salisbury became leader of the Conservative Party on the death of Disraeli in 1878. The general election of 1885 finally brought him to power as Prime Minister. During his three spells in the position (1885-6, 1886-92 and 1895-1902) he was responsible for increasing the size the of the British Empire by some 600 million square miles, major reforms in local government and steering the country through the Boer war of 1899-1902.
This proved to be his last major contribution to public life; he retired
from politics in 1902 and died the next year. This eminently patient and tactical
parliamentarian is probably best summed up by a quote from fellow customer,
Winston Churchill, who said of him:
"No one was more ready to sacrifice his opinion to get his own way."
JJ Fox & Robert Lewis, 19 St James's Street,
London, SW1A 1ES
Tel:+44 (0)20 7930 3787 Fax:+44 (0)20 7495 0097
