Plate, 9.5 x 9.5 inches. Black transfer with polychrome clobbering and gilding. Printed maker's mark for Wallis Gimson & Co. This pattern features the head and shoulders of the Right Honorable William Ewart Gladstone surmounted with "Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot" and below, his signature over a Roman fasces (rods and an ax symbolizing Justice). These are surrounded by roses and these words: "Junior Lord of the Treasury, 1834. Under Secretary for Colonies 1833. Vice President of Board of Trade and Master of Mint 1841. President of Board of Trade 1843. Colonial Secretary 1845. Chancellor of the Exchequer 1852-4. Prime Minister & Chancellor of Exchequer 1873. Prime Minister 1882-3. Chancellor of Exchequer 1866. Prime Minister 1866." Gladstone (1809-1898) studied at Eton College and obtained a Double First at Christ's Church Oxford where he learned oratory as President of the Oxford Union Debating Society. In his long career as a Liberal statesman he was Prime Minister four times but his formal manner did not appeal to Queen Victoria who complained "He always addresses me as if I were a public meeting." In later years he was generally referred to as the GOM (Grand Old Man), a term that his lifelong opponent, Benjamin Disraeli, asserted should have been 'God's Only Mistake'. He attempted to abolish Income Tax but only succeeded in reducing it from nine pence to four pence in the pound. In 1886 Gladstone's attempt to obtain Home Rule for Ireland failed and his Government fell. He tried, and failed again, six years later, when he returned to office for the last time aged 83-84.
Gimson specialized in making ware in a series such as ‘The World’ and ‘Achievements of Notable Victorians.’ In February the partnership between Joseph Gimson Jr. and Thomas Wallis Gimson was dissolved and Thomas W. Gimson continued on his own account. At the time of bankruptcy of the business it was Thomas Wallis Gimson who was trading as Wallis Gimson & Co.
