Herbert Henry Asquith was born at Croft House in Morley, West Riding of Yorkshire, to woolen mill owner Joseph Dixon Asquith and his wife Emily Willans on September 12, 1852.
In his younger days, Asquith was called Herbert within the family, but his second wife called him Henry. However, in public, he was invariably referred to only as H. H. Asquith. "There have been few major national figures whose Christian names were less well known to the public," writes his biographer Roy Jenkins.
In his younger days, Asquith was called Herbert within the family, but his second wife called him Henry. However, in public, he was invariably referred to only as H. H. Asquith. "There have been few major national figures whose Christian names were less well known to the public," writes his biographer Roy Jenkins.
In November 1869 Asquith won a classical scholarship at Balliol College, Oxford.
He practiced law after graduating from Oxford in 1874 and supplemented his income by writing regularly for The Spectator, which at that time had a broadly Liberal outlook.
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| Asquith in 1876 |
In 1886 Asquith was the Liberal candidate for East Fife, a seat he won and held for over thirty years.
Asquith attained national prominence as junior defense attorney for the Irish nationalist leader Charles Stewart Parnell, when the latter was under investigation by Parliament in 1888, and in 1892 he became home secretary under Prime Minister William Gladstone.
King Edward VII, was holidaying in Biarritz, when H. H. Asquith succeeded Henry Campbell-Bannerman as Prime Minister on April 5, 1908. His majesty refused to return to London, citing health grounds and Asquith was forced to travel to Biarritz for the official "kissing of hands" of the monarch. This was the only time a British Prime Minister has formally taken office on foreign soil.
As Prime Minister, Asquith led the Liberal Party to a series of domestic reforms, including introducing the Old Age Pension (1908), National Insurance Act (1911) and the Parliamentary Act (1911), which restricted the power of the House of Lords.
Asquith loved bridge and would often play long into the night even during the First World War.
It is was known that Asquith was at times the worse for drink when on the front bench. The leader of the opposition, Andrew Bonar Law, once remarked “Asquith, when drunk, can make a better speech than any of us when sober.”
It is was known that Asquith was at times the worse for drink when on the front bench. The leader of the opposition, Andrew Bonar Law, once remarked “Asquith, when drunk, can make a better speech than any of us when sober.”
His opponents gave Asquith the nickname "Squiff" or "Squiffy", a derogatory reference to his fondness for drink.
He led the nation into the First World War, but following a series of military and political crises, Asquith resigned as British Prime Minister in late 1916.. He was replaced by David Lloyd George.
Asquith’s best-known descendant today is the actress Helena Bonham Carter, who is a great-granddaughter.
Asquith served as the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from April 5, 1908 to December 5, 1916. Until Margaret Thatcher overtook him on January 5, 1988, he was the longest continuously serving Prime Minister in the 20th century. He was also the last prime minister to lead a majority Liberal government.
Asquith remained head of the Liberal Party until 1926. After suffering three strokes, he died on February 15, 1928 aged 75 at The Wharf, a country house at Sutton Courtenay in Berkshire which he'd bought in 1912. Asquith was buried in the churchyard of All Saints' at Sutton Courtenay.
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| 1919 portrait by André Cluysenaar |
Asquith remained head of the Liberal Party until 1926. After suffering three strokes, he died on February 15, 1928 aged 75 at The Wharf, a country house at Sutton Courtenay in Berkshire which he'd bought in 1912. Asquith was buried in the churchyard of All Saints' at Sutton Courtenay.
Asquith’s best-known descendant today is the actress Helena Bonham Carter, who is a great-granddaughter.
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