Joseph Chamberlain summary

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Frank Holl: Joseph ChamberlainJoseph Chamberlain, detail of an oil painting by Frank Holl, 1886; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Joseph Chamberlain, (born July 8, 1836, London, Eng.—died July 2, 1914, London), British politician and reformer. Early success in business enabled him to retire at age 38 with a substantial fortune. He was elected to Parliament (1876–1906), where he became a leader of the left wing of the Liberal Party. In 1886, in opposition to Irish Home Rule, he joined other dissident Liberals (Liberal Unionists) to defeat the Liberal government. He used his control of the Liberal Unionists to pressure the subsequent Conservative government to adopt a more progressive social policy. As colonial secretary (1895–1903), he advocated tax reform and a federated empire of self-governing colonies, helping pass the Commonwealth of Australia bill (1900). He resigned when his proposals for a tariff giving preference to imperial products were rebuffed by the government.

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