= Robert Gascoyne-Cecil = '''Robert Gascoyne-Cecil''' was a [[UnitedKingdom/ConservativeParty|Conservative]] politician, member of the [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament|Parliament]], and [[UnitedKingdom/PrimeMinisters|prime minister]] of the [[UnitedKingdom/Democratization|United Kingdom]]. <> ---- == History == Robert was a younger son of '''James Gascoyne-Cecil''', '''marquess of Salisbury'''. He was first elected to the [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament|House of Commons]] as a [[UnitedKingdom/ConservativeParty|Conservative]] in 1853. He first entered government in 1865 under [[UnitedKingdom/EdwardSmithStanley|Smith-Stanley]]; he led the '''India Office'''. In 1867, as a protest against [[UnitedKingdom/BenjaminDisraeli|Disraeli's]] '''Reform Act''', Gascoyne-Cecil resigned. His father died in 1868, and by then both of his elder brothers had also died, leaving him to inherit his father's titles and seat in [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament#House_of_Lords|House of Lords]]. In 1874, Disraeli returned him to government to lead the India Office again, then the '''foreign office''' in 1878. The Conservatives however lost the April 1880 general elections, leading to the second [[UnitedKingdom/WilliamEwartGladstone|Gladstone]] government. Following the disastrous '''Siege of Khartoum''', Gladstone resigned in July 1885. Gascoyne-Cecil led a brief minority government, calling snap elections in November that saw a slight increase to the Conservative minority, before Gladstone recovered support in February. Snap elections were again held in July 1886 and the Conservatives this time won a clear majority. The July 1992 elections saw the Conservatives lose their majority, and Gascoyne-Cecil resigned. Gladstone retired in 1894, leaving [[UnitedKingdom/ArchibaldPrimrose|Primrose]] to succeed as [[UnitedKingdom/PrimeMinisters|prime minister]]. Primrose chose to interpret a lost vote on army supply as a vote of confidence, and called for snap elections in June 1895. The Conservatives then won a commanding majority in the election of the following month. Gascoyne-Cecil returned to lead a third government. Gascoyne-Cecil proposed raising tariffs to raise funds after the '''Boer War'''. The issue of tariff reform would continue to fragment the Conservatives for over a decade, however. He resigned from government in 1902, leaving his nephew [[UnitedKingdom/ArthurBalfour|Balfour]] to succeed as PM and party leader. He died the next year. ---- == Policies == Gascoyne-Cecil is effectively the last lord to serve as prime minister, leaving aside [[UnitedKingdom/AlecDouglasHome|Douglas-Home]] who established a norm by resigning his peerage upon said election. Gascoyne-Cecil established the '''two power standard''': the [[UnitedKingdom/ArmedForces#HM_Naval_Service|Royal Navy]] was to have the power of the next two largest navies, combined. ---- CategoryRicottone