, Prime minister 1885-6, 1886-92, 1895-1902. Wrote pungent articles for Quarterly Review; secretary for India (1866-67, 1874-78), for foreign affairs (1878); leader of opposition in House of Lords on death of Disraeli (1881); helped defeat Gladstone's home rule bill (1893); opponent of democracy and radical ideas of progress. Prime minister and foreign secretary (1885-86, 1886-92, 1895-1902); followed imperialist but cautiously conciliatory policy; annexed Burma; strengthened hold on Upper Nile and Zanzibar; secured open door in China; reconquered Sudan (1896); retired, after conducting Boer War (1902), in favour of his nephew A.J. Balfour.