George Joachim Goschen 1st Viscount Goschen

George Joachim Goschen Goschen, 1st Viscount , 1831-1907, British statesman. A leading financier, he was elected (1863) to Parliament as a Liberal and was first lord of the admiralty (1871-74). In 1876 he negotiated the establishment of Anglo-French control over Egypt's finances. He later served (1880-81) as ambassador to Turkey. Goschen was one of the leading Liberal Unionists, who in 1886 broke with William Gladstone over Irish Home Rule. As chancellor of the exchequer (1886-92) in the Conservative government he successfully converted the national debt and reduced currency stringencies, and as first lord of the admiralty (1895-1900) he supervised expansion of the navy.

Bibliography: See his Theory of Foreign Exchanges (1861; 4th ed., with biographical preface by B. F. Hopper, 1932); study by T. J. Spinner, Jr. (1973).

Goschen, George Joachim, 1st Viscount (1831–1907). A front‐rank and long‐serving politician in his day, Goschen is now remembered chiefly in one phrase. Grandson of a Leipzig publisher, his father settled in London in 1814. Goschen was sent to Rugby and Oxford to get an English education, took first‐class honours in classics, and was president of the Union. He entered the Commons in 1863 as the Liberal member for London, and remained in Parliament all his life. Given junior office by Russell in 1865, he was brought into the cabinet the following year as chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, and served as president of the Poor Law Board 1868–71, 1st lord of the Admiralty 1871–4 and 1895–1900, and chancellor of the Exchequer 1887–92. After the Home Rule crisis of 1886, he joined Hartington in leading the Liberal Unionists. When Lord Randolph Churchill resigned dramatically from Salisbury's government in 1886, expecting to be recalled, his place was filled by Goschen, and not a dog barked. ‘I forgot Goschen,’ explained Lord Randolph ruefully.

Goschen, George Joachim, 1st Viscount (1831–1907). A front-rank and long-serving politician in his day, Goschen is now remembered chiefly in one phrase. He was the grandson of a Leipzig publisher: his father settled in London as a merchant in 1814. Goschen was sent to Rugby and Oxford to get an English education, took first-class honours in classics, and was president of the Union. By 1858 he was a director of the Bank of England, entered the Commons in 1863 as the Liberal member for London, and remained in Parliament all his life. Given junior office by Russell in 1865, he was brought into the cabinet the following year as chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, and served as president of the Poor Law Board 1868–71, 1st lord of the Admiralty 1871–4 and 1895–1900, and chancellor of the Exchequer 1887–92. Given a viscountcy in 1900, he was chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1903. A financial expert, useful speaker, good administrator, Goschen was a safe pair of hands. ‘A violent moderate’ was his own description and he became increasingly uneasy at the Liberals' drift towards radicalism, refusing to serve in Gladstone's second ministry. After the Home Rule crisis of 1886, he joined Hartington in leading the Liberal Unionists. When Lord Randolph Churchill resigned dramatically from Salisbury's government in 1886, expecting to be recalled, his place was filled by Goschen, and not a dog barked. ‘I forgot Goschen,’ explained Lord Randolph ruefully.

J. A. Cannon