Walter Hume Long - Definition and Overview

Walter Hume Long, 1st Viscount Long (1854-1924) was a British Conservative politician of the late 19th and early 20th century. A protestant Irishman, he was a fervent Unionist. He served as President of the Board of Agriculture (1895-1900), President of the Local Government Board (1900-1905), and Chief Secretary for Ireland (1905) under Salisbury and Balfour. In 1911, he competed with Austen Chamberlain for leadership of the party, but ultimately the post went to the compromise candidate Andrew Bonar Law. In Asquith's coalition ministry of 1915, Long was again President of the Local Government Board (1915-1916), and under Lloyd George he served as Secretary of State for the Colonies (1916-1919), and First Lord of the Admiralty (1919-1921). He retired in 1921 and was raised to the peerage as Viscount Long, of Wraxall in the County of Wiltshire.