Which British statesman served as Prime Minister four times during the Victorian era?

Which British statesman served as Prime Minister four times during the Victorian era? William Ewart Gladstone. He held the office in four separate, non-consecutive periods between 1868 and 1894, more times than any other British prime minister.

Gladstone first became prime minister after the 1868 general election, leading a Liberal government that pursued reforms including Irish disestablishment and secret voting. He returned to office in 1880, briefly formed a third ministry in 1886, and became prime minister for the fourth and final time in 1892. His last government ended with his resignation in 1894.

His political career crossed party lines. He entered Parliament as a Conservative, became a follower of Sir Robert Peel, and later emerged as the dominant figure in the Liberal Party. His ideas emphasized political reform, lower taxation, balanced budgets and individual liberty, a tradition known as Gladstonian liberalism.

A common mix-up is Lord Palmerston, who served twice, and Benjamin Disraeli, who served twice. Gladstone was also notable for his late return to office: he became prime minister for the final time at age 82, while Queen Victoria was still monarch.