Table of Contents

Part I. The Self-Made Trader, 1764–1812: 1. The grandfather of a Prime Minister: Thomas Gladstones; 2. The young trader of Leith: John Gladstones, 1764–87; 3. The life of a Liverpool corn dealer, 1787–9; 4. The American adventure, 1789–90; 5. The challenge of Liverpool, 1790–1800; 6. The widower and the provost of Dingwall's daughter, 1800; 7. War, business and family, 1800–5; 8. Politics and parenthood, 1806–12; Part II. The Liverpool Merchant Prince, 1812–22; 9. 1812: The critical election; 10. The great war: the last phase, 1812–15; 11. The Gladstones at Seaforth House, 1815–22; 12. Canning as protege, 1812–22; 13. John Gladstone and Canning on the nation's needs, 1812–22; 14. Shipowner, trader, planter and philanthropist, 1815–22; 15. The four sons: Eton and Glasgow Colleges and the navy, 1817–22; Part III. Ambitions, Personal and Parental, 1822–30: 16. Gladstone, Finlay, Canning and Huskisson, 1822–9; 17. Frustration, illnesses and the tragedy of Anne, 1822–9; 18. Railroads, charities, politics and fortune, 1822–9; 19. Sugar and slaves in the West Indies, 1823–9; 21. William at Eton and Oxford, 1822–9; 21. The leaving of Liverpool, 1829–30; Part IV. Three Unsettled Years, 1830–3: 22. Politics and business by post; 23. William at Oxford and Westminster; 24. Slave emancipation; Part V. The Aged Scottish Laird and his Politician Son, 1833–51: 25. The laird of Fasque and Balfour, 1833–40; 26. William at Westminster: his wooing and his writing, 1833–40; 27. India and China; the coolie system; railways, 1833–40; 28. Family, investments and advice to Sir Robert Peel, 1841–6; 29. William Ewart Gladstone as Peel's lieutenant, 1841-6; 30. The ancient baronet, 1846–51; 31. The dissolving family; Epilogue: The making of Mr Gladstone.

Promotional Information

This full-scale study of the Gladstones, one of the most interesting and best documented families of nineteenth-century Britain.