Cardwell, Edward, 1st Viscount Cardwell (1813-1886)

British Liberal politician. He entered Parliament as a supporter of the Conservative prime minister Peel 1842, and became secretary for Ireland (1859-61) in the administration of Lord Palmerston. Under Gladstone, he was secretary for war 1868-74, and instituted an extensive programme of army reforms, including the abolition of the purchase of military commissions and promotions. He was raised to the peerage in 1874 as Viscount Cardwell of Ellerbeck.

Cardwell trained as a lawyer, and became a barrister in 1838. His political career began when he was returned as the member for Clitheroe, in Lancashire. He first held ministerial office under Peel as secretary of the Treasury 1845-46. In Lord Aberdeen's ministry he was president of the Board of Trade 1852-55. While secretary for the colonies (1864-66), he put an end to the transportation of convicts. Further measures in his great plan of army reorganisation of 1871-72 included the compulsory retirement of officers, the short-service system, and infantry organization of linked battalions.