A fine portrait of a man who hated being photographed, Benjamin Disraeli, twice Prime Minister to Queen Victoria. In 1876 Disraeli was raised to the peerage as the Earl of Beaconsfield.

A favorite of the Queen, Disraeli was of Jewish ancestry but was baptized into the Church of England by his father.

 

A successful novelist prior to entering politics he once said "When I want to read a good novel I sit down and write one."

 

Another famous quote dealt with the events of Anglo Zulu War of 1879. He said: "A very remarkable people, the Zulu. They defeat our generals; they convert our bishops; they have settled the fate of a great European dynasty". This statement refereed to the defeat of Lord Chelmsford's army at Isandlwana, John Colenso the Bishop of Natal who championed the Zulu cause and finally the death of the Prince Imperial of France who was killed in a Zulu ambush while on patrol in Zululand with Chelmsford's second invasion force.



Cabinet Photograph
Jabez Hughes  - Photographer
Regina House, Ryde, Isle of Wight, England
22 July, 1878