Unionist government, 1895–1905

A coalition of the Conservative and Liberal Unionist parties took power in the United Kingdom shortly before the 1895 general election. Conservative leader Lord Salisbury was appointed Prime Minister and his nephew, Arthur Balfour, became Leader of the House of Commons, but various major posts went to the Liberal Unionists, most notably the Leader of the House of Lords, the Liberal Unionist Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire, who was made Lord President, and his colleague in the Commons, Joseph Chamberlain, who became Colonial Secretary. It was this government which would conduct the Second Boer War from 1899–1902, which helped them to win a landslide victory at the 1900 general election.
The government consisted of three ministries, the first two led by Salisbury and the third by Balfour.

The office of Prime Minister

Lord Salisbury was the second and last person to be head of government while not simultaneously holding the title of First Lord of the Treasury. It was said that there were some attempts to distinguish between the two offices, but in the century or more since, they have remained one and the same.

Trade reform

Balfour succeeded Salisbury as prime minister in 1902. Eventually, the Unionist government would falter after Chamberlain proposed his scheme for tariff reform, whose partial embrace by Balfour led to the resignation of the more orthodox free traders in the Cabinet.

Chinese miners in South Africa

After the conclusion of the Boer War, the British government sought to rebuild the South African economy which had been devastated by the war. An important part of the rebuilding effort was to get the gold mines of the Witwatersrand, the richest in history and a major cause of the war, back in production as soon as possible. Because the government decreed that white labour was too expensive and black labourers were reluctant to return to the mines, the government decided to import over 60,000 contracted workers from China.
This was deeply unpopular at the time, as popular opinion in much of the Western world, including Britain; was hostile to Chinese immigration. It also happened at a time when poverty and unemployment amongst working-class British people was at very high levels. On 26 March 1904, a demonstration against Chinese immigration to South Africa was held in Hyde Park and was attended by 80,000 people. The Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress then passed a resolution declaring that:

Fall from power

With his majority greatly reduced and defeat in the next election seeming inevitable, Balfour resigned as prime minister in December 1905, leading to the appointment of a minority Liberal government under Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. In the general election which followed in 1906, all but three members of Balfour's cabinet lost their seats, including Balfour himself.

Cabinets

Salisbury ministry

November 1900 to July 1902

In November 1900, the Cabinet was reformed for the first time.

Balfour ministry

Changes

May 1903 – Lord Onslow succeeds Robert William Hanbury at the Board of Agriculture.
September to October 1903 –
*Lord Londonderry succeeds the Duke of Devonshire as Lord President. Londonderry remains President of the Board of Education.
*Lord Lansdowne succeeds Devonshire as Leader of the House of Lords. Lansdowne remains Foreign Secretary.
*Lord Salisbury succeeds Arthur Balfour as Lord Privy Seal.
*Austen Chamberlain succeeds Charles Ritchie at the Exchequer. Chamberlain's successor as Postmaster General is not in the Cabinet.
*Alfred Lyttelton succeeds Joseph Chamberlain as Colonial Secretary.
*St John Brodrick succeeds Lord George Hamilton as Secretary for India.
*H. O. Arnold-Forster succeeds Brodrick as Secretary for War.
*Andrew Graham-Murray succeeds Lord Balfour of Burleigh as Secretary for Scotland.
March 1905 –
*Walter Hume Long succeeds George Wyndham as Irish Secretary.
*Gerald Balfour succeeds Long at the Local Government Board.
*Lord Salisbury succeeds Balfour at the Board of Trade. Salisbury remains Lord Privy Seal.
*Lord Cawdor succeeds Lord Selborne at the Admiralty.
*Ailwyn Fellowes succeeds Lord Onslow at the Board of Agriculture.

List of ministers

Office	Name	Date
Prime minister	Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury	–
Prime minister	Arthur Balfour	–
	Arthur Balfour	–
Chancellor of the Exchequer	Sir Michael Hicks Beach, 9th Baronet
Chancellor of the Exchequer	Charles Ritchie
Chancellor of the Exchequer	Austen Chamberlain
	Sir William Walrond
	Sir Alexander Acland-Hood
Financial Secretary to the Treasury	Robert William Hanbury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury	Austen Chamberlain
Financial Secretary to the Treasury	William Hayes Fisher
Financial Secretary to the Treasury	Arthur Elliot
Financial Secretary to the Treasury	Victor Cavendish
Junior Lords of the Treasury	Henry Torrens Anstruther	–
Junior Lords of the Treasury	William Hayes Fisher	–
Junior Lords of the Treasury	Edward Stanley, Baron Stanley	–
Junior Lords of the Treasury	Ailwyn Fellowes	–
Junior Lords of the Treasury	Henry Forster	–
Junior Lords of the Treasury	David Lindsay, Baron Balniel	–
Junior Lords of the Treasury	Lord Edmund Talbot	–
Lord Chancellor	Hardinge Giffard, 1st Baron Halsbury
Lord President of the Council	Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire
Lord President of the Council	Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry
Lord Privy Seal	R. A. Cross, 1st Viscount Cross
Lord Privy Seal	Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
Lord Privy Seal	Arthur Balfour
Lord Privy Seal	James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury
Secretary of State for the Home Department	Sir Matthew White Ridley, 5th Baronet
Secretary of State for the Home Department	Charles Thomson Ritchie
Secretary of State for the Home Department	Aretas Akers-Douglas
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department	Jesse Collings
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department	Thomas Cochrane
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs	Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs	Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs	George Curzon
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs	St John Brodrick
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs	James Gascoyne-Cecil, Viscount Cranborne
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs	Henry Percy, Earl Percy
Secretary of State for War	Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne
Secretary of State for War	St John Brodrick
Secretary of State for War	H. O. Arnold-Forster
Under-Secretary of State for War	St John Brodrick
Under-Secretary of State for War	George Wyndham
Under-Secretary of State for War	George Somerset, 3rd Baron Raglan
Under-Secretary of State for War	Albert Yorke, 6th Earl of Hardwicke
Under-Secretary of State for War	Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 6th Earl of Donoughmore
Financial Secretary to the War Office	Joseph Powell Williams
Financial Secretary to the War Office	Edward Stanley, Baron Stanley
Financial Secretary to the War Office	William Bromley-Davenport
Secretary of State for the Colonies	Joseph Chamberlain
Secretary of State for the Colonies	Alfred Lyttelton
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies	William Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies	William Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies	Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough
Secretary of State for India	Lord George Hamilton
Secretary of State for India	St John Brodrick
Under-Secretary of State for India	William Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow
Under-Secretary of State for India	Albert Yorke, 6th Earl of Hardwicke
Under-Secretary of State for India	Henry Percy, Earl Percy
Under-Secretary of State for India	vacant
Under-Secretary of State for India	Thomas Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath
First Lord of the Admiralty	George Goschen
First Lord of the Admiralty	William Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne
First Lord of the Admiralty	Frederick Campbell, 3rd Earl Cawdor
Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty	William Ellison-Macartney
Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty	H. O. Arnold-Forster
Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty	E. G. Pretyman
Civil Lord of the Admiralty	Austen Chamberlain
Civil Lord of the Admiralty	E. G. Pretyman
Civil Lord of the Admiralty	Arthur Lee
President of the Board of Agriculture	Walter Long
President of the Board of Agriculture	Robert William Hanbury
President of the Board of Agriculture	William Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow
President of the Board of Agriculture	Ailwyn Fellowes
President of the Board of Education	Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire
President of the Board of Education	Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education	Sir William Anson, 3rd Baronet
Chief Secretary for Ireland	Gerald Balfour
Chief Secretary for Ireland	George Wyndham
Chief Secretary for Ireland	Walter Long
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland	George Cadogan, 5th Earl Cadogan
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland	William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley
Lord Chancellor of Ireland	Edward Gibson, 1st Baron Ashbourne
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster	R. A. Cross, 1st Viscount Cross
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster	Henry James, 1st Baron James of Hereford
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster	Sir William Walrond
President of the Local Government Board	Henry Chaplin
President of the Local Government Board	Walter Long
President of the Local Government Board	Gerald Balfour
Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board	Thomas Russell
Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board	John Lawson
Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board	Arthur Frederick Jeffreys
Postmaster General	Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk
Postmaster General	Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry
Postmaster General	Austen Chamberlain
Postmaster General	Edward Stanley, Baron Stanley
Secretary for Scotland	Alexander Bruce, 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh
Secretary for Scotland	Andrew Murray
Secretary for Scotland	John Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow
President of the Board of Trade	Charles Ritchie
President of the Board of Trade	Gerald Balfour
President of the Board of Trade	James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade	William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade	Bonar Law
First Commissioner of Works	Aretas Akers-Douglas
First Commissioner of Works	Robery Windsor-Clive, 14th Baron Windsor
Vice-President of the Committee on Education	Sir John Eldon Gorst
Paymaster General	John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun
Paymaster General	Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough
Paymaster General	Sir Savile Crossley
Attorney General	Sir Richard Webster
Attorney General	Sir Robert Finlay
Solicitor General	Sir Robert Finlay
Solicitor General	Sir Edward Carson
Lord Advocate	Sir Charles Pearson
Lord Advocate	Andrew Murray
Lord Advocate	Charles Dickson
Solicitor General for Scotland	Andrew Murray
Solicitor General for Scotland	Charles Dickson
Solicitor General for Scotland	David Dundas
Solicitor General for Scotland	Edward Theodore Salvesen
Solicitor General for Scotland	James Avon Clyde
Attorney-General for Ireland	John Atkinson
Solicitor-General for Ireland	William Kenny
Solicitor-General for Ireland	Dunbar Barton
Solicitor-General for Ireland	George Wright
Solicitor-General for Ireland	James Campbell
Lord Steward of the Household	Sidney Herbert, 14th Earl of Pembroke
Lord Chamberlain of the Household	Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom
Lord Chamberlain of the Household	John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun
Lord Chamberlain of the Household	Edward Villiers, 5th Earl of Clarendon
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household	Ailwyn Fellowes
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household	Sir Alexander Acland-Hood
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household	Frederick Glyn, 4th Baron Wolverton
Master of the Horse	William Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland
Treasurer of the Household	George Osborne, Marquess of Carmarthen
Treasurer of the Household	Richard Curzon, Viscount Curzon
Treasurer of the Household	Victor Cavendish
Treasurer of the Household	James Hamilton, Marquess of Hamilton
Comptroller of the Household	Lord Arthur Hill
Comptroller of the Household	Arthur Annesley, 11th Viscount Valentia
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms	Henry Strutt, 2nd Baron Belper
	William Pery, 3rd Earl of Limerick
	William Waldegrave, 9th Earl Waldegrave
Master of the Buckhounds	George Coventry, 9th Earl of Coventry
Master of the Buckhounds	Charles Cavendish, 3rd Baron Chesham
Mistress of the Robes	Louisa Montagu Douglas Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch
Lords-in-Waiting	Victor Spencer, 3rd Baron Churchill	–
Lords-in-Waiting	George Harris, 4th Baron Harris	–
Lords-in-Waiting	John Henniker-Major, 5th Baron Henniker	–
Lords-in-Waiting	John Lawrence, 2nd Baron Lawrence	–
Lords-in-Waiting	Uchter Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly	–
Lords-in-Waiting	William Waldegrave, 9th Earl Waldegrave	–
Lords-in-Waiting	Edward Villiers, 5th Earl of Clarendon	–
Lords-in-Waiting	Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport	–
Lords-in-Waiting	Algernon Keith-Falconer, 9th Earl of Kintore	–
Lords-in-Waiting	William Bagot, 4th Baron Bagot	–
Lords-in-Waiting	Rudolph Feilding, 9th Earl of Denbigh	–
Lords-in-Waiting	Richard Curzon, 4th Earl Howe	–
Lords-in-Waiting	Lloyd Tyrell-Kenyon, 4th Baron Kenyon	–
Lords-in-Waiting	Charles Hay, 20th Earl of Erroll	–