Joseph Chamberlain

• 1. Screws And The City

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  On the 8th of July 1836, Joseph Chamberlain was born on Camberwell Grove in London. His father ran a shoe business that had occupied the same warehouse at Milk Street for three generations. At age 16, young Joseph apprenticed with the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers to make leather shoes. He joined his uncle's screw-making firm called Nettlefolds at 18 years old. That company grew to produce two-thirds of all metal screws made in England during its peak years. By 1874 when he retired from business, Nettlefold and Chamberlain exported their products worldwide. Chamberlain never attended university yet built an empire through sheer commercial acumen. He developed contempt for aristocratic privilege while accumulating wealth that would fund his political ambitions.

• 2. Gas Water And Slums

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  In November 1873 Chamberlain became mayor of Birmingham after the Liberal Party swept municipal elections. The city suffered from lax public works administration and severe poverty among urban dwellers. Chamberlain promised to park pave assize market gas and water the city before declaring it improved. Two competing gas companies kept streets constantly dug up laying new mains throughout the borough. He forcibly purchased both firms for £1,953,050 even offering to buy them personally if ratepayers refused. The new municipal gas scheme generated £34,000 profit within its first year alone. Half the population relied on polluted well water since piped supply arrived only three days weekly. In January 1876 Chamberlain bought Birmingham's waterworks for £1,350,000 creating a Corporation Water Department. He declared they had no intention making direct profits but sought comfort and health for inhabitants instead. A slum clearance plan began in July 1875 involving acquisition of 50 acres for Corporation Street construction. The death rate dropped dramatically from 53 per 1,000 between 1873-1875 to just 21 per 1,000 by 1879-1881.

• 3. Radical And Unionist

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  Chamberlain entered Parliament at age 39 relatively late compared to privileged politicians. His maiden speech occurred on the 4th of August 1876 during debate on elementary schools lasting twenty minutes. He organized Radical MPs into coherent groups intending to displace Whig dominance within Liberal Party ranks. On the 31st of May 1877 the National Liberal Federation founded at Bingley Hall with Chamberlain as president. This organization enhanced his party influence providing national platform through local chapters and published pamphlets. Contemporary commentators drew disparaging comparisons between the Federation and American political machine techniques. In April 1881 Gladstone introduced Irish Land Act while Charles Stewart Parnell encouraged tenants withholding rents. Parnell and other leaders imprisoned in Kilmainham Gaol on the 13th of October 1881 following government action. Chamberlain supported imprisonment using it to bargain informal Kilmainham Treaty released in 1882. Lord Frederick Cavendish murdered by Irish National Invincibles on the 6th of May 1882 rendering treaty nearly useless. On the 13th of March 1886 Gladstone revealed plans implementing Home Rule requiring Nationalist support. Chamberlain resigned from Cabinet two days later making resignation public on the 27th of March 1886. He launched ferocious campaign against proposals combining imperial domestic personal themes threatening empire unity.

• 4. Empire Builder

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  Chamberlain took charge of Colonial Office on the 1st of July 1895 remaining there eight years total. He sought fostering closer relations between Great Britain settler colonies expanding Empire Africa Americas Asia ordering imperial trade preferential tariffs. His aggressive development projects earned nickname Joseph Africanus among press due to focus West Africa West Indies. Patrick Manson founded London School Tropical Medicine world second medical facility dedicated tropical medicine receiving Chamberlain support in 1899. In 1895 Chamberlain sanctioned conquest Ashanti Confederacy annexed Gold Coast constructing railway newly conquered area using emergency funds Lagos Sierra Leone Gold Coast. French expanded Dahomey Bussa town claimed Goldie threatening isolation Lagos prompting argument even cost war Britain keep adequate hinterland. Frederick Lugard commanded military force occupying region risky chequerboard strategy countering French garrisons British territory. March 1898 French proposed settlement returning Bussa Britain exchange town Bona imposing control Niger inland territories Sokoto consolidated Nigeria. Hut Tax War erupted Mende Temne tribes Sierra Leone launching revolt against inland colonial expansion 1898. Chamberlain appointed Sir David Patrick Chalmers special commissioner investigating violence blaming African slave traders rather tax itself promoting constructive imperialism.

• 5. War And Camps

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  British hopes federation South Africa under Crown waned following failed Jameson Raid growing wealth Transvaal discovery gold. By 1897 certain future union Southern African states Boer dominated republic outside British Empire. Chamberlain directed steady upkeep military pressure Transvaal Orange Free State ostensibly protecting civil rights Uitlanders. August 1897 government appointed Sir Alfred Milner High Commissioner Southern Africa pursuing issue directly. Within year Milner concluded war inevitable working Chamberlain publicising cause Uitlanders British people. May 1899 Milner met State President Paul Kruger failing resolve tensions leaving Boers convinced British determined use force. October 1899 nearly 20,000 British troops based South African colonies thousands more en route. Kruger issued ultimatum withdrawal British troops borders return any destined South Africa the 9th of October. South African Republic Orange Free State declared war the 12th of October directing from Colonial Office Salisbury rubber-stamped decisions. Early fighting favored Boers regular army units outnumbering British three-to-one front lines besieging Ladysmith Mafeking Kimberley. Mid-December 1899 British Army suffered reverses Stormberg Magersfontein Colenso known Black Week. Chamberlain privately criticized Army performance exasperated Lord Lansdowne Secretary War requesting comparable artillery Creusot ninety-four pounder siege guns. Over 30,000 troops Canada Australia New Zealand served war strengthening bonds Britain self-governing colonies slogan One Flag Queen Tongue.

• 6. Tariffs And Fall

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  Chamberlain dominated Unionist campaign 1900 election point some referred it Joe's election ensuring Boer War featured single issue arguing Liberal victory resulted defeat South Africa lending election khaki sobriquet after color new uniforms worn British troops. Unionists controversially tied Liberal opponents directly enemy using phrase Every seat lost government seat sold Boers posters portraying Liberal MPs praising Kruger helping haul down Union Jack. Some Liberals retaliatory tactics Lloyd George accusing Chamberlain son brother war profiteering troubling him more prepared make evident public. Leveraging imperialism cause devastating effect splitting Liberals over war Unionists won huge 219-seat majority House Commons mandate comprehensive as hoped strengthened government standing pursuing vision Empire. Ailing Salisbury resigned Foreign Secretary conclusion 1900 election pressure Balfour Queen Victoria succeeded relatively inexperienced Lord Lansdowne seized initiative British foreign affairs formulating agreement Germany again. On the 16th of January 1901 Chamberlain Spencer Cavendish Duke Devonshire made known Britain planned join Triple Alliance news received satisfaction Berlin though von Bülow continued exercise caution Kaiser urged positive response delaying negotiations until Britain vulnerable ongoing war South Africa. Despite hopes Anglo-German alliance ended finally Chamberlain popularity soared Times commenting Mr Chamberlain moment most popular trusted man England still seeking end splendid isolation escalating negotiations French Ambassador Paul Cambon begun March 1901 settle colonial differences neither moved quickly liked.