H. H. Asquith

NAME: H.H. Asquith (Herbert Henry Asquith) He was known as "Herbert" or "Bertie" within the family

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: H.H. Asquith is primarily known for his role as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916, during which he led the country through a significant period including the early years of World War I.

He was known as H. H. Asquith to the nation. As biographer Roy Jenkins puts it, there haven't been many bigwigs whose first monikers were such a mystery to the public.

BIRTH: Herbert Henry Asquith was born on September 12, 1852, in Morley, Yorkshire, England.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: Asquith was born into a middle-class family. His father, Joseph Dixon Asquith, was a wool merchant and manufacturer, while his mother, Emily Willans, was from a prosperous industrial family.

CHILDHOOD: Asquith grew up in a comfortable and intellectually stimulating environment. He was raised in Morley and later in Huddersfield, where he attended Huddersfield College.

Asquith (left) with his sister Emily and elder brother William, c. 1857

EDUCATION: He and his brother were educated at home by their parents until 1860, when father died suddenly. His grandfather, William Willans took charge of the family, moved them to a house near his own, and arranged for the boys' schooling. After a year at Huddersfield College they were sent as boarders to Fulneck School, a Moravian Church school near Leeds. In 1863 William Willans died, and the family came under the care of Emily's brother, John Willans. The boys went to live with him in London; when he moved back to Yorkshire in 1864 for business reasons, they remained in London and were lodged with various families. 

Asquith received his later education at the City of London School and Balliol College, Oxford. He excelled academically and was awarded various scholarships during his time at Oxford.

CAREER RECORD: Asquith had a distinguished career in law and politics. 

After graduating from Oxford, Asquith donned the barrister's robes and even dabbled in writing for a magazine called The Spectator (quite the liberal rag back then). By 1886, he was knee-deep in politics, winning a seat for East Fife – a constituency he'd hold onto tighter than a bulldog with a bone for over three decades.

Asquith's star power really started shining when he defended Irish nationalist leader Charles Stewart Parnell in a parliamentary investigation. Fast forward to 1892, and he'd become Home Secretary under Prime Minister William Gladstone. Fun fact: when Asquith took over the top job from Henry Campbell-Bannerman in 1908, King Edward VII was busy holidaying in Biarritz. Refusing to come back for the official handover due to "health reasons" (wink wink), Asquith had to travel all the way to France to get his premiership sealed with a royal handshake. Talk about awkward!

As Prime Minister, Asquith, the Liberal leader, championed a string of domestic reforms. We're talking old age pensions, national insurance, and even clipping the wings of the House of Lords.

He led Britain into the murky waters of World War I, but by 1916, after a string of military and political headaches, Asquith hung up his Prime Ministerial hat on December 5, 1916 and David Lloyd George took the reins.

 His political resume is:

Member of Parliament (1886-1918, 1920-1924)

Home Secretary (1892-1895)

Chancellor of the Exchequer (1905-1908)

Prime Minister (1908-1916)

Secretary of State for War (1914)

Leader of the Opposition (1916-1918)

APPEARANCE: Asquith was tall with a distinguished and somewhat stern countenance.

H.H. Asquith

FASHION: Asquith was known for his conservative and traditional style of dress, typically wearing formal attire befitting his status as a statesman.

CHARACTER: Asquith was known for his intellect, eloquence, and pragmatism. He was considered a skilled orator and a masterful political strategist. He was a strong leader, but sometimes seen as aloof.

SENSE OF HUMOUR: Asquith had a dry wit and a sharp sense of humor, which he often displayed in his speeches and private conversations.

RELATIONSHIPS: Asquith was married twice. His first wife, Helen Melland, passed away in 1891. He later married Margot Tennant, with whom he had five children. Asquith's relationship with his second wife was often tumultuous but enduring.

MONEY AND FAME: Asquith enjoyed both wealth and fame during his political career, but he was not particularly ostentatious or extravagant in his personal life.

FOOD AND DRINK: Asquith enjoyed traditional British cuisine and was known to appreciate a good glass of wine or whiskey. Despite his liquid lunches, he still managed to pass some sobering legislation! 

MUSIC AND ARTS: Asquith had an appreciation for classical music and the arts, regularly attending concerts and cultural events in London.

LITERATURE: Asquith was a voracious reader and had a deep appreciation for literature, particularly poetry and historical works.

NATURE: Asquith enjoyed spending time outdoors, whether walking in the countryside or relaxing in his garden.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: Asquith was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing tennis and cricket in his leisure time.

Asquith loved bridge and would often play long into the night even during the First World War.

SCIENCE AND MATHS: While Asquith's career was focused on law and politics, he maintained an interest in scientific and mathematical developments of his time.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY: Asquith was not particularly known for his philosophical or theological views, but he was a liberal in his political ideology and advocated for progressive social reforms.

SCANDAL: Asquith's career was marked by several scandals, including controversies surrounding his handling of military strategy during World War I and allegations of impropriety in his personal life.

Whispers swirled that Asquith enjoyed a tipple or two on the job. His political rival, Andrew Bonar Law, even quipped that "Asquith, when drunk, can make a better speech than any of us when sober." Ouch! They even gave him the rather unflattering nickname "Squiffy" because of his fondness for a drink.

MILITARY RECORD: The declaration of war on  August  4,1914 saw Asquith at the helm of a surprisingly unified Liberal Party. Even the opposition parties pledged cooperation. With the nation seemingly standing shoulder-to-shoulder, Asquith led Britain into the conflict, managing to avoid any major domestic unrest. It was a moment of national unity, and Asquith, the picture of stoic confidence, seemed the perfect man to guide them through the storm.

The war's early months saw Asquith's popularity surge. Past political squabbles faded into the background as the nation looked to their "steady, massive, self-reliant and unswerving" leader to secure victory. But Asquith, a master of navigating peacetime politics, wasn't quite prepared for the brutal realities of what would become known as total war. By war's end, he'd be out of office for good, and his party would never again hold a majority government. The Great War, it seemed, demanded a different kind of leadership than the one Asquith embodied.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: Asquith maintained good health for much of his life but experienced health issues later in his career, including heart trouble.

HOMES: Asquith lived in various residences throughout his life, including a family home in Huddersfield and 10 Downing Street during his tenure as Prime Minister.

TRAVEL: Asquith traveled extensively for diplomatic and political purposes during his time in office, both domestically and internationally.

DEATH: After suffering three strokes, H.H. Asquith passed away aged 75 on February 15, 1928 at The Wharf, a country house at Sutton Courtenay in Berkshire which he'd bought in 1912. Asquith was buried in the churchyard of All Saints' at Sutton Courtenay

Among his living descendants are his great-granddaughter, the actress Helena Bonham Carter (born 1966). 

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA: Asquith's life and political career have been the subject of numerous biographies, historical studies, and adaptations in film and television.

ACHIEVEMENTS: Led the Liberal Party to victory in three general elections

Oversaw social reforms like the National Insurance Act (1911)

Curtailed the House of Lords' power with the Parliament Act (1911)

Led Britain through the early years of World War I