Briefly - Lord Randolph Churchill, a younger son of the Duke of Marlborough and father of Winston Churchill, was Secretary of State for India 1885-86 and Chancellor of the Exchequer for a few months in 1886.

William Gladstone was one of the great figures of Victorian politics. After holding a number of Cabinet posts he served as Prime Minister 1868-74, 1880-85, 1886 & 1892-94 only retiring aged 84. His life is definitely worth looking into further.

Lord John Russell, a younger son of the Duke of Bedford, was another figure who held several Cabinet posts before becoming Prime Minister 1846-52 & 1865-66. He was created Earl Russell in 1861.

Daniel O'Connell was an Irish Nationalist Member of Parliament between the 1820s and 40s and Lord Mayor of Dublin.

Why call yourself Mark Twain when you are born with the marvellous name of Samual Langhorn Clements?

Very much so. Disraeli led the Conservatives while Gladstone led the Liberals. Disraeli was a great favourite of Queen Victoria and was created an Earl at her suggestion. Gladstone, who did great things for the country, never received any honours as Victoria blocked them all. 

Ireland could have gained independence years earlier than it did; Gladstone advocated Irish Home Rule and got it through the House of Commons in 1893, but the House of Lords rejected it. Had Home Rule gone through in the 1890s Ireland could have had a peaceful transition to independence rather than the painful birth it experienced in the 1920s.  

Gladstone's first attempt at Irish Home Rule in 1886 was defeated when 93 members of his own Liberal Party voted with the Conservatives against it. It led to the fall of Gladstone's administration, the splitting of his party and a General Election which the Conservatives won with a big majority largely brought about by the defection of the anti-Home Rule wing of the Liberals who allied themselves with Lord Salisbury's Conservatives. 

If you're looking into Gladstone's life take a look at his activities with prostitutes in the 1840s and 50s, it's not what you might at first think.  

Gladstone's first attempt at Irish Home Rule in 1886 was defeated when 93 members of his own Liberal Party voted with the Conservatives against it. It led to the fall of Gladstone's administration, the splitting of his party and a General Election which the Conservatives won with a big majority largely brought about by the defection of the anti-Home Rule wing of the Liberals who allied themselves with Lord Salisbury's Conservatives. 

If you're looking into Gladstone's life take a look at his activities with prostitutes in the 1840s and 50s, it's not what you might at first think.  

Yes, he used to go out on the late night streets saving the ladies of the night.

Gladstone's first attempt at Irish Home Rule in 1886 was defeated when 93 members of his own Liberal Party voted with the Conservatives against it. It led to the fall of Gladstone's administration, the splitting of his party and a General Election which the Conservatives won with a big majority largely brought about by the defection of the anti-Home Rule wing of the Liberals who allied themselves with Lord Salisbury's Conservatives. 

If you're looking into Gladstone's life take a look at his activities with prostitutes in the 1840s and 50s, it's not what you might at first think.  

Yes, he used to go out on the late night streets saving the ladies of the night.

He was into self-flagellation to beat the sin out of him as well? Sixty years in politics, four time PM, a wordsmith beyond compare, a patriarch of the Liberal Party, opponent of Disraeli & even Queen Victoria...................seems like quite a guy. 

Disraeli was born into a Jewish family, but his father converted himself and all his children into Christianity when Benjamin was about 12.