Page "Liberal Party (UK)" Paragraph 14

The Whig-Radical amalgam could not become a true modern political party, however, while it was dominated by aristocrats, and it was not until the departure of the " Two Terrible Old Men ", Russell and Palmerston, that Gladstone could become the first leader of the modern Liberal Party.

This was brought about by Palmerston's death in 1865 and Russell's retirement in 1868.

After a brief Conservative interlude ( during which the Second Reform Act was passed by agreement between the parties ), Gladstone won a huge victory at the 1868 election and formed the first Liberal government.

The establishment of the party as a national membership organisation came with the foundation of the National Liberal Federation in 1877.