Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury

Lord Robert Cecil was the second son of the 2nd Marquess of Salisbury. After an unhappy childhood, he went into politics, entering the House of Commons as a Conservative in 1853.

In 1857, Cecil married Georgina Alderson, a woman of low social standing, in spite of his father's objections. The marriage proved a happy one, producing five sons and two daughters. In 1866 Cecil, now called Viscount Cranborne (due to the death of his older brother), entered the third government of Lord Derby as Secretary of State for India, but resigned the next year over the Reform Bill, which he opposed.

In 1868, on the death of his father, the new Marquess of Salisbury was raised to the House of Lords.

He returned to government again in 1874, serving once again as India Secretary in the government of Benjamin Disraeli. Gradually, Salisbury developed a good relationship with Disraeli, whom he had previously disliked and distrusted, at least partially due to the latter's Jewish origins. In 1878, Salisbury succeeded Lord Derby (son of the Prime Minister) as Foreign Secretary, in time to help lead Britain to "peace with honor" at the Congress of Berlin[?]. For this he was rewarded with the Order of the Garter.

Following Beaconsfield's death in 1881, Salisbury became the leader of the Conservative opposition, and became Prime Minister of a minority administration from 1885 to 1886. Although he was unable to accomplish much in this administration, due to his tenuous command over the Commons, the split of the Liberals over Irish Home Rule[?] in 1886 enabled him to return to power with a parliamentary majority, and, with a short break (1892-1895) to serve as Prime Minister throughout the period from 1886 to 1902.

Salisbury's expertise was in foreign affairs, and uncharacteristically, for most of his time as Prime Minister he served not as First Lord of the Treasury, the traditional position held by the Prime Minister, but as Foreign Secretary. In that capacity, he skillfully managed Britain's foreign affairs, famously pursuing a policy of "Glorious Isolation," while at home he staunchly opposed Irish Home Rule. Among the important events of his premierships was the Partition of Africa[?], culminating in the Fashoda Crisis[?] and the Boer War.

In 1902, Salisbury resigned from office, being succeeded by his nephew, Arthur James Balfour. He was the last peer to serve as Prime Minister.

Lord Salisbury's First Government, July 1885 - February 1886

• Lord Salisbury - Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
• Sir Stafford Northcote (later Lord Iddesleigh) - First Lord of the Treasury
• Lord Halsbury - Lord Chancellor
• Lord Cranbrook - Lord President of the Council
• Lord Harrowby - Lord Privy Seal
• Sir Richard Assheton Cross - Secretary of State for the Home Department
• Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley - Secretary of State for the Colonies
• William Henry Smith - Secretary of State for War
• Lord Randolph Churchill[?] - Secretary of State for India
• Lord George Hamilton - First Lord of the Admiralty
• Sir Michael Hicks Beach - Chancellor of the Exchequer
• The Duke of Richmond - President of the Board of Trade
• Lord John Manners - Postmaster-General
• Lord Carnarvon - Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland[?]
• Lord Asbourne - Lord Chancellor of Ireland[?]
• Edward Stanhope - Vice President of the Council[?]

Changes

• 1885 - The Duke of Richmond becomes Secretary for Scotland[?]. Edward Stanhope[?] succeeds him at the Board of Trade. Stanhope's successor as Vice President of the Council is not in the Cabinet.
• January, 1886 - The Lord-Lieutenantship of Ireland is put into commission. William Henry Smith becomes Chief Secretary for Ireland[?]. Lord Cranbrook succeeds him as Secretary for War, while remaining Lord President.

Lord Salisbury's Second Government, August 1886 - August 1892

• Lord Salisbury - First Lord of the Treasury
• Lord Halsbury - Lord Chancellor
• Lord Cranbrook - Lord President of the Council
• Lord Cadogan - Lord Privy Seal
• Henry Matthews - Secretary of State for the Home Department
• Lord Iddesleigh - Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
• Edward Stanhope - Secretary of State for the Colonies
• William Henry Smith - Secretary of State for War
• Lord Cross - Secretary of State for India
• Lord George Hamilton - First Lord of the Admiralty
• Lord Randolph Churchill[?] - Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Lord Stanley of Preston - President of the Board of Trade
• Lord John Manners - Chencellor of the Duchy of Lancaster[?]
• Sir Michael Hicks Beach - Chief Secretary for Ireland[?]
• Arthur James Balfour - Secretary for Scotland[?]

Changes

• January, 1887 - Lord Salisbury succeeds Lord Iddesleigh as Foreign Secretary. William Henry Smith succeeds Salisbury as First Lord of the Treasury. Edward Stanhope succeeds Smith as Secretary for War. Sir Henry Holland (later Lord Knutsford) succeeds Smith as Colonial Secretary. George Joachim Goschen succeeds Lord Randolph Churchill as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Arthur Balfour succeeds Sir Michael Hicks Beach as Irish Secretary. His successor as Scottish Secretary is not in the Cabinet. Hicks Beach becomes a minister without portfolio. Charles Thomson Ritchie enters the Cabinet as President of the Local Government Board[?].
• 1888 - Sir Michael Hicks Beach succeeds Lord Stanley of Preston as President of the Board of Trade
• 1889 - H. Chaplin enters the Cabinet as President of the Board of Agriculture.
• October, 1891 - Arthur James Balfour succeeds William Henry Smith as First Lord of the Treasury. Balfour's successor as Irish Secretary is not in the cabinet.

Lord Salisbury's Third Government, June 1895 - July 1902

• Lord Salisbury - Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
• Arthur James Balfour - First Lord of the Treasury
• Lord Halsbury - Lord Chancellor
• The Duke of Devonshire - Lord President of the Council
• Lord Cross - Lord Privy Seal
• Sir Michael White-Ridley - Secretary of State for the Home Department
• Joseph Chamberlain - Secretary of State for the Colonies
• Lord Lansdowne - Secretary of State for War
• Lord George Hamilton - Secretary of State for India
• George Joachim Goschen - First Lord of the Admiralty
• Sir Michael Hicks Beach - Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Charles Thomson Ritchie - President of the Board of Trade
• H. Chaplin - President of the Local Government Board[?]
• Lord James of Hereford - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
• Aretas Akers-Douglas - First Commissioner of Public Works[?]
• Lord Cadogan - Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland[?]
• Lord Ashbourne - Lord Chancellor of Ireland[?]
• Lord Balfour of Burleigh - Secretary for Scotland[?]
• Walter Hume Long - President of the Board of Agriculture[?]

Changes November, 1900 - Complete reorganization of the ministry:

• Lord Salisbury - Lord Privy Seal
• Arthur James Balfour - First Lord of the Treasury
• Lord Halsbury - Lord Chancellor
• The Duke of Devonshire - Lord President
• Charles Thomson Ritchie - Secretary of State for the Home Department
• Lord Lansdowne - Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
• Joseph Chamberlain - Secretary of State for the Colonies
• William St. John Brodrick - Secretary of State for War
• Lord George Hamilton - Secretary of State for India
• Lord Selborne - First Lord of the Admiralty
• Sir Michael Hicks Beach - Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Geoffrey Balfour - President of the Board of Trade
• Walter Hume Long - President of the Local Government Board[?]
• Lord James of Hereford - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
• Aretas Akers-Douglas - First Commissioner of Public Works[?]
• Lord Cadogan - Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland[?]
• Lord Ashbourne - Lord Chancellor of Ireland[?]
• Lord Balfour of Burleigh - Secretary for Scotland[?]
• R.W. Hanbury - President of the Board of Agriculture[?]