19 April 1881
Disraeli dies

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Following the Conservatives' defeat in the 1880 election, Disraeli continues as their leader by popular request but, a year later, dies suddenly of bronchitis. The Marquess of Salisbury leads the party in the House of Lords, while Sir Stafford Northcote takes over in the Commons. Northcote is seen by right-wing Conservatives as being too close to the Liberals, and the group of Conservative MPs known as the 'Fourth Party' (see Bradlaugh affair) criticise him relentlessly. Salisbury gains in authority and leads the Conservatives into the 1885 general election.

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