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Robert Lowe

British statesman and colonial Australian politician (1811-1892) · Politicians · Died at 80

Robert Lowe, 1st Viscount Sherbrooke, GCB, PC, was a British statesman and Liberal politician who helped shape British politics in the latter half of the 19th century. He held office under William Ewart Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1868 and 1873 and as Home Secretary between 1873 and 1874.

Robert Lowe is read about 42 times a day, in 9 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 18 June 2026

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Awards

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath1885
Fellow of the Royal Society

About this person

Lowe is remembered for his work in education policy, his opposition to electoral reform and his contribution to modern UK company law. Gladstone appointed Lowe as Chancellor expecting him to hold down public spending. Public spending rose, and Gladstone pronounced Lowe "wretchedly deficient"; most historians agree. Lowe repeatedly underestimated the revenue, enabling him to resist demands for tax cuts and to reduce the national debt instead. He insisted that the tax system be fair to all classes. By his own main criterion of fairness - that the balance between direct and indirect taxation remain unchanged - he succeeded. Even in his time, however, this concept of fiscal incidence was obsolescent.

Category
Politicians
Type
Politician
Status
Deceased
Dates
Lived 1811 to 1892 · aged 80