Page "Lord George Bentinck" Paragraph 4

Bentinck first became prominent in politics in 1846 when he, with Disraeli, led the protectionist opposition to the repeal of the Corn Laws.

Until he rose to speak against their repeal, he had not spoken a word in eighteen years in Parliament.

Historians see Bentinck's participation as vital, for the majority of those who opposed repeal were country gentlemen, who were far more likely to follow the son of a Duke than Disraeli, an Anglicized Sephardic-Jewish literary figure of somewhat ill-repute.

Although Bentinck and Disraeli did not prevent the repeal of the Corn Laws, they did succeed in forcing Peel's resignation some weeks later over the Irish Coercion Bill.

The Conservative Party broke in half ; some hundred free-trade Peelites followed Peel, while two hundred and thirty protectionists formed the new Conservative Party, with Stanley ( later the Earl of Derby ) as overall leader.

Bentinck became leader of the party in the House of Commons.