57 he was returned to parliament as
Liberal member for North Lancashire. At the opening of the new
parliament of 1859 the marquis of Hartington (as he had now become)
moved the amendment to the address which overthrew the government of
Lord Derby. In 1863 he became first a lord of the admiralty, and then
under-secretary for war, and on the formation of the Russell-Gladstone
administration at the death of Lord Palmerston he entered it as war
secretary. He retired with his colleagues in July 1866; but upon Mr
Gladstone's return to power in 1868 he became postmaster-general, an
office which he exchanged in 1871 for that of secretary for Ireland.
When Mr Gladstone, after his defeat and resignation in 1874, temporarily
withdrew from the leadership of the Liberal party in January 1875, Lord
Hartington was chosen Liberal leader in the House of Commons, Lord
Granville being leader in the Lords. Mr W. E. Forster, who had taken a
much more prominent part in public life, was the only other possible
nominee, but he declined to stand. Lord Hartington's rank no doubt told
in his favour, and Mr Forster's education bill had offended the
Nonconformist members, who would probably have withheld their support.
Lord Hartington's prudent management in difficult circumstances laid his
followers under great obligations, since not only was the opposite party
in the ascendant, but his own former chief was indulging in the freedom
of independence. After the complete defeat of the Conservatives in the
general election of 1880, a large proportion of the party would have
rejoiced if Lord Hartington could have taken the Premiership instead of
Mr Gladstone, and the queen, in strict conformity with constitutional
usage (though Gladstone himself thought Lord Granville should have had
the preference), sent for him as leader of the Opposition. Mr Gladstone,
however, was clearly master of the situation: no cabinet could be formed
without him, nor could he reasonably be expected to accept a subordinate
post. Lord Hartington, therefore, gracefully abdicated the leadership,
and became secretary of state for India, from which office, in December
1882, he passed to the war office. His administration was memorable for
the expeditions of General Gordon and Lord Wolseley to Khartum, and a
considerable number of the Conservative party long held him chiefly
responsible for the "betrayal of Gordon." His lethargic manner, apart
from his position as war minister, helped