Queen Victoria’s Favorite PM and What Rose to the Top
“News is that which comes from the North, East, South, and West, and if it comes from only one point on the compass, then it is a class publication and not news.” Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881)
My childhood love of television has once again found a path from it’s buried past to the present. I remember watching a mini-series on PBS about the British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli. I found the series fascinating and have watched for it to be on again. I was never blessed with a repeat but with the help of the internet, I can review and learn.
Benjamin Disraeli was a prominent figure in British politics in the 19th century. He started life as an author and entered politics at an early age. After being elected to the House of Commons, he floundered for several years before becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer. The 1858-1859 Parliament made it legal for Jews to be admitted which paved the way to him becoming the Prime Minister. In 1874, he was once again made Prime Minister.
He served under Queen Victoria and was one of her favorites. He was the only person allowed to sit in her presence. He, like his Queen, wanted The British Empire to expand and prosper and he was responsible for getting British control over both the Suez Canal and India.
Of course, for those who love rock and roll and anticipated the Cream reunion, their 2nd album comes to mind. It was titled Disraeli Gears and launched Cream into the American music scene. The title is actually a take off on a comment Eric Clapton made to Ginger Baker about getting a racing bike. A roadie made a comment about Disraeli gears instead of derailleur gears and the boys thought it was funny. Now Derailleur gears are what allow you to have multiple speeds on a bicycle by having two sprockets and a mechanism that allows the chain to jump from one gear to the other. It is what allows for speed variations.
As for the quote, that started this whole thing out, it is why I don’t watch the news. But that was another post.
Icool
Cobb
My childhood love of television has once again found a path from it’s buried past to the present. I remember watching a mini-series on PBS about the British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli. I found the series fascinating and have watched for it to be on again. I was never blessed with a repeat but with the help of the internet, I can review and learn.
Benjamin Disraeli was a prominent figure in British politics in the 19th century. He started life as an author and entered politics at an early age. After being elected to the House of Commons, he floundered for several years before becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer. The 1858-1859 Parliament made it legal for Jews to be admitted which paved the way to him becoming the Prime Minister. In 1874, he was once again made Prime Minister.
He served under Queen Victoria and was one of her favorites. He was the only person allowed to sit in her presence. He, like his Queen, wanted The British Empire to expand and prosper and he was responsible for getting British control over both the Suez Canal and India.
Of course, for those who love rock and roll and anticipated the Cream reunion, their 2nd album comes to mind. It was titled Disraeli Gears and launched Cream into the American music scene. The title is actually a take off on a comment Eric Clapton made to Ginger Baker about getting a racing bike. A roadie made a comment about Disraeli gears instead of derailleur gears and the boys thought it was funny. Now Derailleur gears are what allow you to have multiple speeds on a bicycle by having two sprockets and a mechanism that allows the chain to jump from one gear to the other. It is what allows for speed variations.
As for the quote, that started this whole thing out, it is why I don’t watch the news. But that was another post.
Icool
Cobb
posted by Cobb at
7:22 AM
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