Second Gladstone ministry

After campaigning against the foreign policy of the Beaconsfield ministry, William Gladstone led the Liberal Party to victory in the 1880 general election. The nominal leader of the Party, Lord Hartington, resigned in Gladstone's favour and Gladstone was appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for a second time by Queen Victoria. He pursued a policy of parliamentary reform, but his government became wildly unpopular after the death of General Gordon in 1885. Gladstone was held responsible, and resigned, leaving the way free for the Conservatives under Lord Salisbury to form a government.

Cabinet; April 1880 – June 1885

†Created Earl of Selborne in 1882.

William Gladstone served as both First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer between April 1880 and December 1882.
The Earl Spencer served as both Lord President and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland between April 1882 and March 1883.
The Earl of Kimberley served as both Colonial Secretary and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster between July and December 1882.
The Lord Carlingford served as both Lord Privy Seal and Lord President between March 1883 and March 1885.

May 1881: The Lord Carlingford succeeds the Duke of Argyll as Lord Privy Seal.
April 1882: The Earl Spencer becomes Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, but retains his seat in the cabinet and his position as Lord President.
May 1882: William Edward Forster resigns as Chief Secretary for Ireland. His successor is not in the cabinet.
July 1882: The Earl of Kimberley succeeds John Bright as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster remaining also Colonial Secretary.
December 1882: Hugh Childers succeeds William Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Lord Hartington succeeds Childers as Secretary for War. Kimberley succeeds Hartington as Secretary for India. The Earl of Derby succeeds Kimberley as Colonial Secretary. John George Dodson succeeds Kimberley as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Sir Charles Dilke succeeds Dodson as President of the Local Government Board.
March 1883: Carlingford succeeds Spencer as Lord President, remaining also Lord Privy Seal. Spencer remains in the Cabinet as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
October 1884: George Otto Trevelyan succeeds Dodson as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
March 1885: The Earl of Rosebery succeeds Carlingford as Lord Privy Seal. Carlingford remains Lord President. George John Shaw-Lefevre enters the cabinet as Postmaster-General.^{[citation needed]}

Cabinet members are listed in bold face.

Cook, C.; Keith, B. (1975). British Historical Facts 1830–1900. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0333132203.