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According to Marjie Bloy’s Victorian Web biography of Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery (1847-1929), “he left [Christ Church, Oxford] in 1869 without taking a degree when he came into conflict with the university authorities, who presented him with the choice of abandoning either his studies or a racehorse he owned: he chose to give up his studies. He travelled widely, visiting Italy and Russia in 1868, and in the 1870s he visited America three times and also went to Australia. Despite not having a degree, he was considered to be one of the most widely read young men of his time.” Entering politics, he became an ally of Gladstone and served as Foreign Minister in two of his ministries. After Rosebery abandoned the Liberal party Gladstone said of him:

1. He is one of the very ablest men I have ever known
2. He is of the highest honour and probity
3. I do not know whether he really has common sense

After Gladstone resigned as Prime Minister, Rosebery held that position from March 1894 to June 1895.

Bibliography

Crewe, Marquis of, Marquis of Lord Rosebery. 2 vols., London, 1931.

McKinstry, Leo. Rosebery: Statesman in Turmoil. London: John Murray, 2005.

Raymond, E.T: The Man of Promise – Lord Rosebery: A Critical Study. London, 1923.

Rhodes, JR. A Biography of Archibald Philip, Fifth Earl of Rosebery. London, 1963.

Created 11 May 2020