Benjamin Disraeli was born on December 21, 1804 and died on April 19, 1881. He was a talented writer as well as a politician. He twice served as Prime Minister. His works include Sybil, Coningsby and Vivian Grey.
- While Disraeli was British, all of his grandparents and great grandparents were born in Italy
- He was of Jewish birth, but later converted to Christianity. As of this writing, he’s the only person to hold the office of British Prime Minister who was born Jewish.
- In 1839 Disraeli married Mary Anne Lewis. She was twelve years older than Disraeli and had an income of £5,000 a year. “Dizzy married me for my money,” his wife later said, “But, if he had the chance again, he would marry me for love.”
- He served as Prime Minister twice. The first time was from February 27 to 1 December of 1868. The second time Disraeli was Prime Minister was from February 20, 1874 to April 21, 1880.
- Disraeli is remembered for his political battles with the Liberal leader, William Ewart Gladstone.
- Hughenden Manor, a red brick Victorian mansion, located in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England was Disraeli’s country house. In 1862 the Disraelis had the house remodelled by the architect Edward Buckton Lamb. Today, it is owned by the National Trust and open to the public.
- Disraeli had a close friendship with Queen Victoria, who in 1876 created him Earl of Beaconsfield.
“There is no act of treachery or meanness of which a political party is not capable; for in politics there is no honour.” ~ Vivian Grey by Benjamin Disraeli
“We are all born for love,” said Morley. “It is the principle of existence, and its only end.” ~ Sybil by Benjamin Disraeli
“Nurture your mind with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makes heroes.” ~ Coningsby by Benjamin Disraeli
Novels by Benjamin Disraeli
- Vivian Grey
- Popanilla
- The Young Duke
- Contarini Fleming
- Ixion in Heaven
- The Wondrous Tale of Alroy
- The Rise of Iskander
- The Infernal Marriage
- Henrietta Temple
- Venetia
- Coningsby, or the New Generation
- Sybil, or The Two Nations
- Tancred, or the New Crusade
- Lothair
- Endymion
- Falconet (unfinished)
