born July 8, 1836, London, Eng.
died July 2, 1914, London
British politician and reformer.
Early success in business enabled him to retire at age 38 with a substantial fortune. He was elected to Parliament (1876–1906), where he became a leader of the left wing of the Liberal Party. In 1886, in opposition to Irish Home Rule , he joined other dissident Liberals (Liberal Unionists) to defeat the Liberal government. He used his control of the Liberal Unionists to pressure the subsequent Conservative government to adopt a more progressive social policy. As colonial secretary (1895–1903), he advocated tax reform and a federated empire of self-governing colonies, helping pass the Commonwealth of Australia bill (1900). He resigned when his proposals for a tariff giving preference to imperial products were rebuffed by the government.
Joseph Chamberlain, detail of an oil painting by Frank Holl, 1886; in the National Portrait ...
By courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London