William Gladstone - William Ewart Gladstone, British Liberal Party statesman and Prime Minister, c1890. William Gladstone (1809-1898) was born in He became Prime Minister in 1868, and then a further two times in 1880 and 1886. Whilst in power Gladstone bought in major reforms to Ireland and established a system of national education in England. quot;The Modern Portrait Gallery", Cassell, Petter and Galpin, London, Paris and New York, c1890.