Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield

British politician. Born as the eldest son of Jewish writer Isaac Disraeli. In his youth, he studied to become a lawyer, but also dabbled in stock speculation and published novels. His first novel, Vivian Gray (1826), was well-received. In 1830, he traveled to the Mediterranean and the Middle East to broaden his knowledge of international affairs. After returning to the UK, he was active in literary and social circles, but around this time he decided to enter politics, published several political works, and ran for office several times from 1832 onwards, eventually winning election as a member of the House of Commons as a member of the Conservative Party in 1837. He became a member of the "Young Englanders" within the Conservative Party, which advocated unity between the aristocracy and the general public and the protection of the working class against the rise of the industrial capitalist class, and published political novels such as Coningsby (1844) and Sybil (1845). When the Conservative Party split over the repeal of the Corn Laws, he took an anti-Peel and anti-free trade stance, and in 1852 he became Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Conservative Cabinet of Derby. When the Second Derby Cabinet was formed in 1858, he also became Chancellor of the Exchequer, solidifying his position as the leader of the Conservative Party. In the following year, 1859, he proposed a moderate reform of the electoral law. This proposal was defeated in Parliament, and after a general election, a Liberal Cabinet was formed. In 1866, he forced the Liberal Cabinet to reject the Electoral Law Reform Bill, and returned to his position as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Third Derby Cabinet. In the following year, 1867, the Conservative government achieved the second electoral law reform. This reform, which gave the right to vote to urban workers, was a bold move known as a "leap in the dark," and marked the beginning of popular democratic politics. It could be said that the ideals of "Tory Democracy" of the Young Englanders, who aimed to unite with the masses, were realized.

He became Prime Minister in February 1868, facing a general election, but lost to Gladstone's Liberal Party and resigned, only to return to the Prime Minister's position in 1874. In his second cabinet, he was noted for his aggressive imperial and foreign policy, first purchasing shares in the Suez Canal Company at the end of 1875, which paved the way for Britain's domination of Egypt, while in 1876 he passed a law making Queen Victoria Empress of India. In foreign affairs, he also attended the Berlin Conference and put a stop to Russia's southward expansion policy. However, due to fierce resistance against Britain in Afghanistan, South Africa, and other places, and a prolonged recession at home, he was defeated in the general election of 1880, and died of illness on April 19, 1881.

Along with Gladstone, he was one of the greatest parliamentary politicians of the 19th century. He promoted reforms that linked the Conservative Party with the masses, while also setting the pace for Britain's imperialistic expansionist policies. He was made an earl in 1876 and was highly trusted by Queen Victoria.

[Yasushi Aoki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

イギリスの政治家。ユダヤ系の文筆家アイザック・ディズレーリの長男として生まれる。青年期には法律家になる勉強を始める一方、株式の投機に手を出したり、小説を発表したりもした。第一作『ビビアン・グレー』（1826）は評判をよんだ。1830年、地中海、中近東への旅に出かけ、国際情勢の見聞を広めた。帰国後、文学界、社交界で活躍したが、このころ政界入りの意志を固め、政治的著作もいくつか発表し、1832年以降何度か立候補を繰り返して、1837年に保守党所属の下院議員に当選した。保守党のなかにあって、貴族と国民大衆の一致を理想とし、産業資本家階級の勃興(ぼっこう)に対して労働者階級を保護することを主張する「青年イギリス派」の一員となり、政治小説『コニングズビー』（1844）、『シビル』（1845）などを発表した。穀物法撤廃をめぐって保守党が分裂した際は、反ピール、反自由貿易の立場をとり、1852年ダービー保守党内閣の蔵相に就任した。1858年に第二次ダービー内閣が成立した際にも蔵相となり、保守党の指導者としての地位を固めるとともに、翌1859年穏健な内容をもつ選挙法改正を提案した。この提案は議会で敗れ、総選挙後、自由党内閣が誕生した。1866年、自由党内閣の選挙法改正法案を否決に追い込み、第三次ダービー内閣の蔵相として返り咲くと、翌1867年には第二次選挙法改正を保守党政府の手で実現した。都市労働者に選挙権を与えたこの改革は「暗中飛躍」とよばれる大胆なもので、大衆民主政治の出発点となった。大衆との一致を目ざした青年イギリス派の「トーリー・デモクラシー」の理念が実現をみたともいえよう。

　1868年2月に首相となり、総選挙を迎えたが、グラッドストーンの自由党に敗れて下野し、1874年に再度首相の座についた。第二次内閣では積極的な帝国・外交政策が目だち、まず1875年末にスエズ運河会社の株式を購入し、エジプト支配の因をつくる一方、翌1876年にはビクトリア女王をインド女帝とする法律を成立させた。また外交面ではベルリン会議に出席してロシアの南下政策を押さえた。しかしアフガニスタン、南アフリカなどではイギリスに対する激しい抵抗が起こり、また国内でも不況が長期化するといったことから、1880年の総選挙で敗れ、翌1881年4月19日病死した。

　グラッドストーンと並ぶ19世紀最大の議会政治家で、保守党と大衆を結び付ける改革を推進した一方、イギリスの帝国主義的膨張政策に先鞭(せんべん)をつけた。1876年伯爵に叙され、ビクトリア女王の信任も厚かった。

［青木　康］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例