Asquith

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

HERBERT HENRY, an English statesman and lawyer, born in Morley, Yorkshire, on Sept. 12, 1852. He was educated at Oxford and shortly HERBERT HENRY ASQUITH after his graduation was admitted to the bar. In 1887 he appeared in the defense of John Burns, labor leader, during the latter's trial for his participation in the so-called riot in Trafalgar Square, in London. Two years later he was one of the counsel of the Irish Nationalists before the Parnell Commission. He was elected to Parliament in 1886 and in 1892 he was made Secretary of State for the Home Department. He took an active part in the Home Rule debates, becoming one of the most conspicuous figures in the House. In 1894 he drew up the bill providing for the disestablishment of the Church of Wales and supported that measure until its rejection by the House. He resigned his seat in the Cabinet in 1895, following the defeat of the Liberal party, but continued in Parliament as a member of the Opposition. During this period the Conservative party gained ascendancy and Asquith's reputation steadily increased. He supported the Government throughout the Boer War but defended free trade following the movement for protection led by Joseph Chamberlain. He was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Ministry of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, when the Liberals regained power in 1905. In 1908 he was appointed Prime Minister and took an aggressive part in the formulation of the Liberal reform program. Many important measures were passed during this period, the most important of which was the law depriving the House of Lords of its veto power following the rds of the rejection by the House of Lords budget of 1909. He won the hostility of the advocates of woman suffrage on account of his opposition to that movement. He finally consented to permit an equal suffrage amendment to the electoral bill but ow of owing to a technical ruling it was necessary to withdraw the entire bill. He was accused of betraying the suffrage cause and the attitude of the woman suffrage leaders became even more hostile than before. From 1908 to 1916 he held the position, not only of Prime Minister, but of First Lord of the Treasury. At the outbreak of the European War he also took over the office of the Secretary of State for War. His attitude as Prime Minister at the outbreak of the World War was patriotic and he supported all measures undertaken to bring Great Britain into active participation following the declaration of war with Germany. As the war progressed, however, he was considered to be overcautious and lacking in energy and deci- Prime He was succeeded sion. as Minister by Lloyd George in 1916. In the elections of 1919 he was defeated for Parliament, but was re-elected on Feb. 25, 1920, as a member from Paisley, ace of Scotland. He at once took the place the leader of the Opposition, and opposed strongly most of the measures relating to Ireland and the industrial situation in England brought forward by Lloyd George in the House of Commons.