Disraeli, Benjamin

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

diz-ra'lee, Benjamin (1804-1881), an English statesman. He was of Jewish ancestry but joined the Church of England. He was educated for the law but took up the profession of literature. His first novel was Vivian Gray. In 1837 he entered Parliament; in 1852 he became a member of the cabinet under Lord Derby; in 1868 he became prime minister--the height of his ambition. He was a rival of Gladstone. He stood for the interests of the ancient aristocracy rather than for those of the people, and favored a strong foreign policy; that is to say, the acquisition of foreign territory. During his long official career he was opposed to the extension of the right of voting; yet, for political reasons, was obliged to bring forward one of the most sweeping reform bills. Queen Victoria favored Disraeli more than she did Gladstone, yet refrained from offensive interference. In 1876 she created Disraeli a peer with the title of Earl of Beaconsfield. He was a man of acute intellect and an able speaker. He was fond of the primrose. On that account it was adopted as a party flower to be worn by the Tory ladies at political meetings. Primrose leagues were formed among his followers. During his busy life, Disraeli wrote a number of novels, including Coningsby, Sybil, Tancred, Endymion, and Lothair. They were quite popular as political novels, owing to the fact that many of the characters were public people but thinly disguised. His work is not expected, however, to live as literature. See Gladstone SAYINGS. It is much easier to be critical than to be correct. The secret of success is constancy to purpose. Man is not the creature of circumstances. Circumstances are the creatures of men. Patience is a necessary ingredient of genius. Youth is a blunder; manhood is a struggle; old age a regret. To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge. His Christianity was muscular. The world is a wheel, and it will all come round right. Nurture your minds with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makes heroes. He is intoxicated with the exuberance of his own verbosity. SAID OF DISRAELI. Lord Beaconsfield was one of the most remarkable men of the nineteenth century. If not possessed of actual genius he was endowed with great intellectual power, and he had astonishing tenacity of purpose and showed remarkable tact and ability in managing men. Entirely original, and never echoing any other writer.--Nicoll. Disraeli's popularity as a novelist is, doubtless, to a great extent due to his prominence as a statesman.--Emery.