Sir Charles Dilke, 2nd Baronet
Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke, 2nd Baronet | |
|---|---|
Image from an Ogden's Cigarette Card | |
| 2nd Baronet, PC | |
| President of the Local Government Board | |
| In office 1882–1885 | |
| Preceded by | William Patrick Adam |
| Succeeded by | George Shaw Lefevre |
| Member of Parliament for Forest of Dean | |
| In office 1892–1911 | |
| Preceded by | Godfrey Blundell Samuelson |
| Succeeded by | Godfrey Blundell Samuelson |
| Member of Parliament for Forest of Dean | |
| In office 1885–1886 | |
| Preceded by | New constituency |
| Succeeded by | Godfrey Blundell Samuelson |
| Member of Parliament for Burnley | |
| In office 1880–1885 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Jones |
| Succeeded by | Peter Rylands |
| Member of Parliament for Chelsea | |
| In office 1868–1874 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Shadwell |
| Succeeded by | James Stuart |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Wentworth Dilke 4 September 1843 Chelsea, London, England |
| Died | 26 January 1911 (aged 67) Chelsea, London, England |
| Resting place | Kensal Green Cemetery, London |
| Party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) | Katherine Mary Eliza Sheil (1842–1874) Emilia Strong (1884–1904) |
| Education | Trinity Hall, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Politician, writer |
Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke, 2nd Baronet PC (4 September 1843 – 26 January 1911) was a British Liberal and Radical politician and writer.
A prominent figure in late Victorian radical politics, he was an early supporter of republicanism and later a leading critic of Whig dominance within the Liberal Party in the United Kingdom. Dilke played an important role in the reform legislation of 1883–1885, supported organised labour and women's rights, and was widely read for his writings on international affairs.
Considered a likely future prime minister, his political career was effectively ended in 1885 by a highly publicised divorce scandal. Although he later returned to Parliament, his prospects for high office never recovered, and his downfall—along with Joseph Chamberlain’s break with Liberal radicalism—significantly weakened the Radical movement.