Second Salisbury ministry

The Marquess of Salisbury formed his second ministry, in an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party, following the 1886 general election and his reappointment as the British prime minister by Queen Victoria.

Second Salisbury ministry
1886–1892
Salisbury (1892)
Date formed	25 July 1886 (1886-07-25)
Date dissolved	11 August 1892 (1892-08-11)
People and organisations
Monarch	Victoria
Prime Minister	Lord Salisbury
Total no. of members	113 appointments
Member parties	Conservative Party
Status in legislature	Minority dependent on Liberal Unionist support
Opposition party	Liberal Party
Opposition leaders	William Ewart Gladstone in the House of Commons Lord Granville (1886–1891) Lord Kimberley (1891–1892) in the House of Lords
History
Election	1886 general election
Outgoing election	1892 general election
Legislature terms	24th UK Parliament 25th UK Parliament lost a vote of confidence
Predecessor	Third Gladstone ministry
Successor	Fourth Gladstone ministry

Cabinet

Portfolio	Minister	Took office	Left office	Party
First Lord of the Treasury	Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Marquess of Salisbury (head of ministry)	25 July 1886 (1886-07-25)	11 August 1892 (1892-08-11)		Conservative
	William Henry Smith	14 January 1887 (1887-01-14)	6 October 1891 (1891-10-06)		Conservative
	Arthur Balfour	6 October 1891 (1891-10-06)	15 August 1892 (1892-08-15)		Conservative
Leader of the House of Lords	Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Marquess of Salisbury (head of ministry)	25 July 1886 (1886-07-25)	11 August 1892 (1892-08-11)		Conservative
Lord Chancellor	Hardinge Giffard, Lord Halsbury	3 August 1886 (1886-08-03)	11 August 1892 (1892-08-11)		Conservative
Lord President of the Council	Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, Viscount Cranbrook	3 August 1886 (1886-08-03)	18 August 1892 (1892-08-18)		Conservative
Lord Privy Seal	George Cadogan, Earl Cadogan	3 August 1886 (1886-08-03)	11 August 1892 (1892-08-11)		Conservative
Secretary of State for the Home Department	Henry Matthews	3 August 1886 (1886-08-03)	15 August 1892 (1892-08-15)		Conservative
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs	Stafford Northcote, Earl of Iddesleigh	3 August 1886 (1886-08-03)	12 January 1887 (1887-01-12)		Conservative
	Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Marquess of Salisbury (head of ministry)	14 January 1887 (1887-01-14)	11 August 1892 (1892-08-11)		Conservative
Secretary of State for the Colonies	Edward Stanhope	3 August 1886 (1886-08-03)	14 January 1887 (1887-01-14)		Conservative
	Henry Holland, Lord Knutsford	14 January 1887 (1887-01-14)	11 August 1892 (1892-08-11)		Conservative
Secretary of State for War	William Henry Smith	3 August 1886 (1886-08-03)	14 January 1887 (1887-01-14)		Conservative
	Edward Stanhope	14 January 1887 (1887-01-14)	11 August 1892 (1892-08-11)		Conservative
Secretary of State for India	R. A. Cross, Viscount Cross	3 August 1886 (1886-08-03)	11 August 1892 (1892-08-11)		Conservative
First Lord of the Admiralty	Lord George Hamilton	9 August 1886 (1886-08-09)	11 August 1892 (1892-08-11)		Conservative
Chancellor of the Exchequer	Lord Randolph Churchill	3 August 1886 (1886-08-03)	14 January 1887 (1887-01-14)		Conservative
	George Goschen	14 January 1887 (1887-01-14)	11 August 1892 (1892-08-11)		Liberal Unionist
Leader of the House of Commons	Lord Randolph Churchill	3 August 1886 (1886-08-03)	14 January 1887 (1887-01-14)		Conservative
	Arthur Balfour	6 October 1891 (1891-10-06)	15 August 1892 (1892-08-15)		Conservative
President of the Board of Trade	Frederick Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston	3 August 1886 (1886-08-03)	21 February 1888 (1888-02-21)		Conservative
	Michael Hicks Beach, Bt	21 February 1888 (1888-02-21)	11 August 1892 (1892-08-11)		Conservative
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster	Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, Viscount Cranbrook	3 August 1886 (1886-08-03)	16 August 1886 (1886-08-16)		Conservative
	John Manners, Duke of Rutland	16 August 1886 (1886-08-16)	11 August 1892 (1892-08-11)		Conservative
Chief Secretary for Ireland	Michael Hicks Beach, Bt	5 August 1886 (1886-08-05)	7 March 1887 (1887-03-07)		Conservative
	Arthur Balfour	7 March 1887 (1887-03-07)	9 November 1891 (1891-11-09)		Conservative
	William Jackson	9 November 1891 (1891-11-09)	11 August 1892 (1892-08-11)		Conservative
Secretary for Scotland	Arthur Balfour	5 August 1886 (1886-08-05)	11 March 1887 (1887-03-11)		Conservative

Changes

• In 1887 a Liberal Unionist, George Goschen, joined the ministry as Chancellor of the Exchequer.^{[C. K. 1975]: 51}
• February 1888 – Sir Michael Hicks Beach succeeds Lord Stanley of Preston as President of the Board of Trade.
• September 1889 – Henry Chaplin enters the Cabinet as President of the Board of Agriculture.
• October 1891 – Arthur Balfour succeeds the late William Henry Smith as First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Commons. William Jackson succeeds him as Chief Secretary for Ireland.

List of ministers

Note: Cabinet members are listed in bold face.

Office	Name	Tenure
Prime minister[a] Leader of the House of Lords	Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Marquess of Salisbury	25 July 1886 – 11 August 1892
First Lord of the Treasury		9 August 1886
	William Henry Smith[b]	17 January 1887
	Arthur Balfour[b]	October 1891
Chancellor of the Exchequer	Lord Randolph Churchill[b]	3 August 1886
	George Goschen	14 January 1887
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury	Aretas Akers-Douglas	3 August 1886
Financial Secretary to the Treasury	William Jackson	3 August 1886
	John Eldon Gorst	9 November 1891
Junior Lords of the Treasury	Sidney Herbert	9 August 1886 – 11 August 1892
	William Walrond[c]	9 August 1886 – 11 August 1892
	Herbert Maxwell, Bt	9 August 1886 – 11 August 1892
Lord Chancellor	Hardinge Giffard, Lord Halsbury	3 August 1886
Lord President of the Council	Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, Viscount Cranbrook	3 August 1886
Lord Privy Seal	George Cadogan, Earl Cadogan[d]	3 August 1886
Secretary of State for the Home Department	Henry Matthews	3 August 1886
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department	Charles Stuart-Wortley	4 August 1886
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs	Stafford Northcote, Earl of Iddesleigh	3 August 1886
	Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Marquess of Salisbury	14 January 1887
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs	James Fergusson, Bt	4 August 1886
	James Lowther	22 September 1891
Secretary of State for War	William Henry Smith	3 August 1886
	Edward Stanhope	14 January 1887
Under-Secretary of State for War	George Harris, Lord Harris	4 August 1886
	Adelbert Brownlow-Cust, Earl Brownlow	1 January 1890
Financial Secretary to the War Office	St John Brodrick	4 August 1886
Surveyor-General of the Ordnance[e]	Henry Northcote	4 August 1886
Secretary of State for the Colonies	Edward Stanhope	3 August 1886
	Henry Holland[f]	14 January 1887
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies	Windham Wyndham-Quin, Earl of Dunraven	3 August 1886
	William Onslow, Earl of Onslow	16 February 1887
	Baron Henry de Worms	20 February 1888
Secretary of State for India	R. A. Cross, Viscount Cross	3 August 1886
Under-Secretary of State for India	John Eldon Gorst	4 August 1886
	George Curzon	9 November 1891
First Lord of the Admiralty	Lord George Hamilton	9 August 1886
Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty	Arthur Forwood	9 August 1886
Civil Lord of the Admiralty	Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett	9 August 1886
President of the Board of Agriculture	Henry Chaplin	9 September 1889
Chief Secretary for Ireland	Michael Hicks Beach	5 August 1886
	Arthur Balfour	7 March 1887
	William Jackson	9 November 1891
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland	Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Marquess of Londonderry	3 August 1886
	Lawrence Dundas, Earl of Zetland	30 July 1889
Lord Chancellor of Ireland	Edward Gibson, Lord Ashbourne	3 August 1886
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster	Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, Viscount Cranbrook	3 August 1886
	Lord John Manners[g]	16 August 1886
President of the Local Government Board	Charles Ritchie[d]	3 August 1886
Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board	Walter Long	3 August 1886
Minister without Portfolio	Michael Hicks Beach	7 March 1887 – 20 February 1888
Secretary for Scotland	Arthur Balfour[h]	5 August 1886
	Schomberg Kerr, Marquess of Lothian	11 March 1887
President of the Board of Trade	Frederick Stanley[i]	3 August 1886
	Michael Hicks Beach	21 February 1888
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade	Baron Henry de Worms	4 August 1886
	William Onslow, Earl of Onslow	21 February 1888
	Alexander Bruce, Lord Balfour of Burleigh	1 January 1889
Vice-President of the Committee on Education	Henry Holland	3 August 1886
	William Hart Dyke	25 January 1887
Paymaster General	Frederick Lygon, Earl Beauchamp	19 August 1886
	Adelbert Brownlow-Cust, Earl Brownlow	March 1887
	Victor Child Villiers, Earl of Jersey	1889
	Robert Windsor-Clive, Lord Windsor	December 1890
Postmaster General	Henry Cecil Raikes	19 August 1886
	James Fergusson, Bt	21 September 1891
First Commissioner of Works	David Plunket	5 August 1886
Attorney General	Richard Webster	5 August 1886
Solicitor General	Edward Clarke	6 August 1886
Judge Advocate General	William Thackeray Marriott	9 August 1886
Lord Advocate	John Macdonald	6 August 1886
	James Robertson	27 October 1888
	vacant	20 August 1891
	Charles Pearson	1 October 1891
Solicitor General for Scotland	James Robertson	6 August 1886
	Moir Tod Stormonth Darling	27 October 1888
	Charles Pearson	31 October 1890
	Andrew Murray	1 October 1891
Attorney-General for Ireland	Hugh Holmes	August 1886
	John George Gibson	1887
	Peter O'Brien	1888
	Dodgson Hamilton Madden	1890
Solicitor-General for Ireland	John George Gibson	August 1886
	Dodgson Hamilton Madden	1888
	John Atkinson	1890
	Edward Carson	June 1892
Lord Steward of the Household	William Edgcumbe, Earl of Mount Edgcumbe	16 August 1886
Lord Chamberlain of the Household	Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, Earl of Lathom	5 August 1886
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household	William Legge, Viscount Lewisham	5 August 1886
	Brownlow Cecil, Lord Burghley	24 November 1891
Master of the Horse	William Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of Portland	9 August 1886
Treasurer of the Household	William Pleydell-Bouverie, Viscount Folkestone[j]	5 August 1886
	Lord Walter Gordon-Lennox	20 November 1891
Comptroller of the Household	Lord Arthur Hill	5 August 1886
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms	George Barrington, Viscount Barrington	5 August 1886
	Robert St Clair-Erskine, Earl of Rosslyn	24 November 1886
	Charles Pelham, Earl of Yarborough	11 August 1890
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard	Algernon Keith-Falconer, Earl of Kintore	5 August 1886
	William Pery, Earl of Limerick	29 January 1889
Master of the Buckhounds	George Coventry, Earl of Coventry	16 August 1886
Mistress of the Robes	Louisa Montagu Douglas Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch	5 August 1886
Lords-in-Waiting	William Onslow, Earl of Onslow	5 August 1886 – 21 February 1887
	William Pery, Earl of Limerick	5 August 1886 – 29 January 1889
	John Henniker-Major, Lord Henniker	5 August 1886 – 11 August 1892
	John Hope, Earl of Hopetoun	5 August 1886 – 12 August 1889
	William Elphinstone, Lord Elphinstone	5 August 1886 – 11 August 1892
	Dudley FitzGerald-de Ros, Lord de Ros	5 August 1886 – 11 August 1892
	William Waldegrave, Earl Waldegrave	5 August 1886 – 11 August 1892
	Alexander Bruce, Lord Balfour of Burleigh	21 February 1887 – 18 March 1889
	Charles Marsham, Earl of Romney	5 February 1889 – 11 August 1892
	George Byng, Viscount Torrington	18 March 1889 – 20 October 1889
	Victor Spencer, Lord Churchill	12 August 1889 – 11 August 1892
	Edward Fellowes, Lord de Ramsey	10 March 1890 – 11 August 1892
Extra Lord in Waiting	Mortimer Sackville-West, Lord Sackville	1 October 1876 – 1 October 1888

Notes

1. The position of prime minister was not a formal ministerial office.
2. Also served as Leader of the House of Commons.
3. Walrond inherited a baronetcy in 1889.
4. Entered the Cabinet in April 1887.
5. Office abolished in 1888.
6. Holland was created Baron Knutsford on 23 February 1888.
7. Manners succeeded as the 7th Duke of Rutland on 4 March 1888.
8. Balfour entered the Cabinet in November 1886.
9. Stanley was created Baron Stanley of Preston on 27 August 1886.
10. Folkestone succeeded as the 5th Earl of Radnor on 11 March 1889.

References

• Tout, T. F. (1910). An Advanced History of Great Britain from the Earliest Times to the Death of Edward VII (new ed.). New York: Longmans, Green (published 1912). pp. 740–741. OL 13991885M.
• Cook, Chris; Keith, Brendan (1975). British Historical Facts: 1830–1900. Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 978-1-349-01348-7.

Preceded by Third Gladstone ministry	Government of the United Kingdom 1886–1892	Succeeded by Fourth Gladstone ministry