Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil 3d marquess of Salisbury

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil Salisbury, 3d marquess of , 1830-1903, British statesman. He entered Parliament in 1853 as a Conservative and devoted himself for 50 years to a program of cautious imperialism and resourceful resistance to sweeping parliamentary and franchise reforms. He became (1866) secretary for India in Lord Derby's government but resigned (1867) in protest against the Reform Bill sponsored and passed by Benjamin Disraeli . Salisbury (who succeeded to his father's title in 1868) returned to the India Office in 1874 and in 1878 became Disraeli's foreign secretary. His "Salisbury Circular" outlined British policy concerning the Eastern Question and led to the Congress of Berlin (1878), which he attended with Disraeli. The Conservatives lost office in 1880, and on Disraeli's death (1881) Salisbury became leader of the opposition to the administration of William Gladstone . In 1885 he entered upon the first of his three ministries. His government fell early in 1886, but Salisbury returned to power within the year, following the defeat of Gladstone's bill for Irish Home Rule. Salisbury's second government lasted six years (until 1892); his third, seven years (1895-1902). In each of his ministries he acted as his own foreign minister. Salisbury avoided alignments in European affairs, maintaining the policy of what was later called "splendid isolation." Colonial affairs, however, brought difficulties with some of the European powers. An Anglo-German agreement (1890) resolved conflicting claims in East Africa; Great Britain received Zanzibar and Uganda in exchange for Helgoland. A treaty with Portugal (1891) gave Britain further rights in E Africa. The Fashoda Incident (1898) brought Britain and France to the verge of war but ended in a diplomatic victory for Britain. Difficulties with the Boers, however, resulted in the South African War (1899-1902). Salisbury conciliated the United States at the time of the Venezuela Boundary Dispute, in the Spanish-American War, and in the Panama negotiations. He attempted with some success to maintain the Open Door in China. Although preoccupied largely with foreign affairs, Salisbury did carry several land purchase acts for Ireland. His governments were also responsible for such reforms as the reorganization of local government (1888), free public education (1891), and workmen's compensation (1897). He relinquished the foreign office in 1900 and resigned as prime minister after the conclusion of the South African War in 1902. Salisbury designated his nephew, Arthur Balfour, as his successor.

Bibliography: See biographies by his daughter, G. Cecil (4 vol., 1921-32, repr. 1971), A. L. Kennedy (1953), R. G. Taylor (1975), and P. Marsh (1978).

Salisbury, Robert Arthur Talbot, 3rd Marquess of Gascoyne-Cecil (b. 3 Feb. 1830, d. 22 Aug. 1903). British Prime Minister 1885–6, 1886–92, 1895–1902 Born in Hatfield, and educated at Eton and Oxford. He was elected to Parliament for the Conservative Party to represent Stamford in 1853, and held his seat until becoming Marquess in 1868. He was Secretary of State for India in 1874–6, and was then Foreign Secretary in 1878–80. He led the Conservative Party from 1885, and in 1886 formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionists, thus successfully exploiting Liberal divisions over Irish ‘Home Rule’ (autonomy). Further reasons for his longevity in office were a close grasp of the wishes of the Conservative electorate, whom he sought not to alienate through radical or excessively enterprising measures. He also displayed a firm control over the House of Lords (Parliament). Both of the latter qualities were notably absent in his nephew and successor, Balfour, which goes a long way to explaining the weakness of the Conservative Party in the decade after his resignation. In addition to being Prime Minister, he was also Foreign Secretary (except for 1886–7) until 1900, when he was succeeded by Henry Lansdowne.

Salisbury, Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of (1830–1903) British statesman, prime minister (1885–86, 1886–92, 1895–1902). Salisbury entered Parliament as a Conservative in 1853, and served in Benjamin Disraeli's administration (1874–80). On Disraeli's death (1881), he became leader of the opposition to Gladstone's government. In each of Salisbury's terms in office he also served as foreign secretary, guiding Britain's imperial and colonial affairs. Despite initial success, his diplomacy of ‘splendid isolation’ resulted in the South African Wars (1899–1902). Salisbury was succeeded by his nephew, Arthur Balfour.

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