Excerpt from Celebrities at Home Unspoiled by private and special training, the Marquis of Hartington went to Trinity, and took his degree in 1854, being then just of age. Two-years later commenced the training of 'the novice' for political life. He accompanied Lord Granville on his Special mission to Russia, and on his return was elected as one of the members for North Lancashire. Tith great sagacity for so young a man, perhaps aided by that complete absence of vanity which is one of his most prominent characteristics, Lord Hart ington refrained from all but small efforts in debate, and bided his time while acquiring knowledge of par liamentary business. At last the opportunity came.
In 1859 it was determined by the Liberal party to move a vote of want of confidence in the Derby Disraeli Government, and Lord Granville brought forward his 'novice' to lead the attack. Unlike the maiden efforts of Lord Beaconsfleld and Sir Robert l'eel, Lord Ilartington's speech was a decided success, and old hands declared at once that this young man would make his mark. Many young orators, flushed by the success of a speech which turned out a Minis try, would have gone on occupying the attention Of Parliament; but Lord Hartington's absence of vanity again saved him from a dangerous pitfall. For four years very little was heard of him. Then came the stansfeld-mazzini affair, and the 'novice, ' novice no longer, was formally inducted into official life as Civil Lord of the Admiralty, to be thence transferred, first to the under-secretaryship, and then to the Secretary ship for War. While occupying the latter position, he developed much of the rough-and-ready ability necessary to a working Minister. Then, as ever, plenty of questions were asked of the Minister of rar. The memory of our Crimean blunders and disasters had hardly died away, and a feeling was growing in the country that the entire administra tion of the army required reform, if not reconstrue tion. Lord Hartington was equal to the occasion. Late in the day he would be seen striding down to the far Office with a string of queries, and would emerge in an hour or two loaded with facts and dates and arguments to bring his Opponents to naught.
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