Plantagenet Palliser
Encyclopedia
Plantagenet Palliser, Duke of Omnium and Earl of Silverbridge, is a main character in the Palliser
series of novel
s, also known as the "Parliamentary Novels," by Anthony Trollope
.
Palliser, first introduced as a minor character in The Small House at Allington
, one of the Barsetshire Novels, is the heir presumptive
to the duke
dom of Omnium. Palliser is a quiet, hardworking, conscientious man whose chief ambition in life is to become Chancellor of the Exchequer
. After an unwise flirtation with the married Lady Dumbello (daughter of Dr. Grantly and granddaughter of Reverend Harding from The Warden
and Barchester Towers
), he agrees to an arranged marriage with the great heiress of the day, the free-spirited, spontaneous Lady Glencora M'Cluskie. She at first finds him boring and considers running away with her dangerous other suitor, the dashing, but penniless Burgo Fitzgerald. Palliser persuades his wife to travel in Europe to cement their relationship after he learns of this—and is promptly offered the post of Chancellor, which he must decline, since his first priority is his wife.
He is eventually given the post anyway. Despite their greatly different natures, the couple settles down to a happy married life, and the last book in the series, The Duke's Children
, deals with the lives and loves of their three children.
Upon inheriting the dukedom, he is forced to relinquish his beloved post at the exchequer, as it is against constitutional practice for members of the House of Lords
to hold that post.
In The Prime Minister, when neither the Whigs
nor the Tories
are able to form a majority, a weak coalition government is the only solution. He is asked to become Prime Minister
because he is an undivisive figure. He does not enjoy his tenure. His socially awkward personality is especially vexed by his wife's lavish parties - her attempt to help influence others to support him. Due to the fragile nature of the coalition, he accomplishes little other than to keep the kingdom on an even keel. Thus, when he has to leave office, it is with little regret. He declines a place in the Liberal cabinet which follows his, feeling it inappropriate to serve in a cabinet once he has led one, but after some thoughts leaves the door open to a return to participation in the government in future, and when the Liberals regain power at the end of The Duke's Children
, accepts a Cabinet post.
The duchess dies suddenly. Only then does he realize how necessary she was to his happiness. In addition, she was his only true friend; all others were either merely political allies or her friends. The widower is left to deal with the marriage choice of two of their three grown children, neither of which initially meets with his approval.
In the BBC's 1974 adaptation of the Palliser novels, the role of Plantagenet Palliser was played by Philip Latham
.
Sir Timothy Beeswax resigned over the County Suffrage Bill. No replacement for him is mentioned prior to the end of the Omnium government.
Palliser novels
The Palliser novels are six novels by Anthony Trollope.The common thread is the wealthy aristocrat and politician Plantagenet Palliser and his wife Lady Glencora...
series of novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s, also known as the "Parliamentary Novels," by Anthony Trollope
Anthony Trollope
Anthony Trollope was one of the most successful, prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. Some of his best-loved works, collectively known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire, revolve around the imaginary county of Barsetshire...
.
Palliser, first introduced as a minor character in The Small House at Allington
The Small House at Allington
The Small House at Allington is the fifth novel in Anthony Trollope's series known as the "Chronicles of Barsetshire", first published in 1864...
, one of the Barsetshire Novels, is the heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
to the duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
dom of Omnium. Palliser is a quiet, hardworking, conscientious man whose chief ambition in life is to become Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
. After an unwise flirtation with the married Lady Dumbello (daughter of Dr. Grantly and granddaughter of Reverend Harding from The Warden
The Warden
The Warden is the first novel in Anthony Trollope's series known as the "Chronicles of Barsetshire", published in 1855. It was his fourth novel.-Synopsis:...
and Barchester Towers
Barchester Towers
Barchester Towers, published in 1857, is the second novel in Anthony Trollope's series known as the "Chronicles of Barsetshire". It is possibly Trollope's best known work...
), he agrees to an arranged marriage with the great heiress of the day, the free-spirited, spontaneous Lady Glencora M'Cluskie. She at first finds him boring and considers running away with her dangerous other suitor, the dashing, but penniless Burgo Fitzgerald. Palliser persuades his wife to travel in Europe to cement their relationship after he learns of this—and is promptly offered the post of Chancellor, which he must decline, since his first priority is his wife.
He is eventually given the post anyway. Despite their greatly different natures, the couple settles down to a happy married life, and the last book in the series, The Duke's Children
The Duke's Children
The Duke's Children is a novel by Anthony Trollope, first published in 1879 as a serial in All the Year Round. It is the sixth and final novel of the "Palliser" series.-Synopsis:...
, deals with the lives and loves of their three children.
Upon inheriting the dukedom, he is forced to relinquish his beloved post at the exchequer, as it is against constitutional practice for members of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
to hold that post.
In The Prime Minister, when neither the Whigs
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
nor the Tories
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
are able to form a majority, a weak coalition government is the only solution. He is asked to become Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
because he is an undivisive figure. He does not enjoy his tenure. His socially awkward personality is especially vexed by his wife's lavish parties - her attempt to help influence others to support him. Due to the fragile nature of the coalition, he accomplishes little other than to keep the kingdom on an even keel. Thus, when he has to leave office, it is with little regret. He declines a place in the Liberal cabinet which follows his, feeling it inappropriate to serve in a cabinet once he has led one, but after some thoughts leaves the door open to a return to participation in the government in future, and when the Liberals regain power at the end of The Duke's Children
The Duke's Children
The Duke's Children is a novel by Anthony Trollope, first published in 1879 as a serial in All the Year Round. It is the sixth and final novel of the "Palliser" series.-Synopsis:...
, accepts a Cabinet post.
The duchess dies suddenly. Only then does he realize how necessary she was to his happiness. In addition, she was his only true friend; all others were either merely political allies or her friends. The widower is left to deal with the marriage choice of two of their three grown children, neither of which initially meets with his approval.
In the BBC's 1974 adaptation of the Palliser novels, the role of Plantagenet Palliser was played by Philip Latham
Philip Latham
Philip Latham is a British actor. He was educated at Felsted School.In the late 1960s/early 1970s he was well known to British TV viewers for his portrayal of chief accountant Willy Izard, the "conscience" to hard-nosed oil company industrialist Brian Stead in the BBC series The Troubleshooters...
.
Cabinet members
- Plantagenet Palliser, Duke of Omnium: Prime MinisterPrime Minister of the United KingdomThe Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
, First Lord of the TreasuryFirst Lord of the TreasuryThe First Lord of the Treasury is the head of the commission exercising the ancient office of Lord High Treasurer in the United Kingdom, and is now always also the Prime Minister...
, and Leader of the House of LordsLeader of the House of LordsThe Leader of the House of Lords is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Lords. The role is always held in combination with a formal Cabinet position, usually one of the sinecure offices of Lord President of the Council,... - Lord Ramsden: Lord ChancellorLord ChancellorThe Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
- Duke of St. Bungay: Lord President of the CouncilLord President of the CouncilThe Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Treasurer and above the Lord Privy Seal. The Lord President usually attends each meeting of the Privy Council, presenting business for the monarch's approval...
- Lord DrummondLord Drummond (Pallisers)Lord Drummond is a fictional character in the Palliser series of novels by Anthony Trollope. For historical holders of the title, see Lord Drummond....
: Secretary of State for the ColoniesSecretary of State for the ColoniesThe Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies.... - Sir Orlando Drought: First Lord of the Admiralty and Leader of the House of CommonsLeader of the House of CommonsThe Leader of the House of Commons is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Commons...
- Joshua Monk: Chancellor of the ExchequerChancellor of the ExchequerThe Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
- Barrington Erle, Postmaster General
Non-cabinet
- Phineas Finn: Chief Secretary for IrelandChief Secretary for IrelandThe Chief Secretary for Ireland was a key political office in the British administration in Ireland. Nominally subordinate to the Lord Lieutenant, from the late 18th century until the end of British rule he was effectively the government minister with responsibility for governing Ireland; usually...
- Sir Gregory Grogram: Attorney GeneralAttorney General for England and WalesHer Majesty's Attorney General for England and Wales, usually known simply as the Attorney General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown. Along with the subordinate Solicitor General for England and Wales, the Attorney General serves as the chief legal adviser of the Crown and its government in...
- Sir Timothy Beeswax: Solicitor GeneralSolicitor General for England and WalesHer Majesty's Solicitor General for England and Wales, often known as the Solicitor General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Attorney General, whose duty is to advise the Crown and Cabinet on the law...
- Mr. Rattler: Patronage SecretarySecretary to the TreasuryIn the United Kingdom, there are several Secretaries to the Treasury, who are junior Treasury ministers nominally acting as secretaries to HM Treasury. The origins of the office are unclear, although it probably originated during Lord Burghley's tenure as Lord Treasurer in the 16th century. The...
- Thomas Roby: Undersecretary for the Admiralty
Changes
Sir Orlando Drought resigned ostensibly over disagreements with Government policy, but in reality because he believed the Leader of the House of Commons should be Prime Minister, and his political ambitions were frustrated. He was replaced as First Lord of the Admiralty by Phineas Finn and as Leader of the House of Commons by Joshua Monk, who retained his post as Chancellor of the Exchequer. The name of Finn's replacement as Chief Secretary for Ireland is not mentioned.Sir Timothy Beeswax resigned over the County Suffrage Bill. No replacement for him is mentioned prior to the end of the Omnium government.