{{Short description|Anniversary of the Death of British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli}} [[File:The Primrose Tomb - geograph.org.uk - 154226.jpg|thumb|Primroses at Disraeli's tomb at [[St Michael and All Angels Church, Hughenden]] ]]
'''Primrose Day''' marked the anniversary of the death of the British statesman and prime minister [[Benjamin Disraeli]], 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, on 19 April 1881.<ref>Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 14th Edition, 1989 (pb), p881</ref> The day was marked each year into the 1920s, with arrangements of [[Primula vulgaris|primroses]] left at Disraeli's tomb at [[St Michael and All Angels Church, Hughenden]] and his [[Statue of Benjamin Disraeli, Parliament Square|statue in Parliament Square]] and many supporters wearing primroses as buttonholes, garlands, and hat decorations.
==Background== Disraeli served as [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|British prime minister]] in 1868 and from 1874 to 1880. He formed a close relationship with [[Queen Victoria]], particularly after he was widowed in 1872. The primrose was reportedly Disraeli's favourite flower, and the queen would send him bunches of them from [[Windsor Castle]] and [[Osborne House]]. Disraeli often thanked the queen for her gifts of flowers, picking out the primroses for special praise. The queen unveiled a memorial to Disraeli at St Michael and All Angels Church, Hughenden in 1882.
Contemporary reports noted that Victoria sent a wreath of primroses to Disraeli's funeral with a note "His favourite flowers: from Osborne: a tribute of affectionate regard from Queen Victoria".<ref>[https://history.blog.gov.uk/2013/04/29/disraelis-flowery-history/ Disraeli's flowery history - History of government (blog.gov.uk)]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=q-1GAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA422 The Illustrated London News], 30 April 1881</ref> However, a few years later, a letter from the Queen's Private Secretary, Sir [[Henry Ponsonby]], contradicted that suggestion.<ref>[http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/20th-april-1934/19/the-primrose-legend THE PRIMROSE LEGEND » 20 Apr 1934 » The Spectator Archive]</ref>
==Commemoration== The first celebration of Primrose Day in 1882 was encouraged by the civil servant Sir [[George Birdwood]], who wrote a letter to ''[[The Times]]'' noting an increase in sales of primroses before the anniversary, and he also proposed primrose decorations at [[St Stephen's Club]]. The success of the event in 1883 led to the creation of the [[Primrose League]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=t0Nb4AZyKw8C&pg=PA1887 Disraeli: or, The Two Lives - Douglas Hurd, Edward Young - Google Books]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=O0QoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA713 The Historic Note-book: With an Appendix of Battles - Ebenezer Cobham Brewer - Google Books]</ref>
An 1885 painting by the [[Newlyn School]] artist [[Frank Bramley]], now held by the [[Tate|Tate Gallery]], depicts a young girl who has been gathering primroses on Primrose Day, sitting near an engraved portrait of Disraeli. Another Newlyn artist, [[Ralph Todd]], painted a similar scene, now at [[Penlee House]].<ref>''[http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/bramley-primrose-day-t03962 Primrose Day]'' painting by [[Frank Bramley]] with descriptive caption</ref>
In 1916, [[Pathé News]] recorded commemorative events, with a wreath laid at Disraeli's statue outside [[Westminster Palace]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Primrose Day In London 1916|url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/primrose-day-in-london|publisher=British Pathé|accessdate=4 March 2015}}</ref> Pathé recorded similar events through the 1920s, including [[Austen Chamberlain]] in 1921, Sir [[William Joynson-Hicks, 1st Viscount Brentford|William Joynson-Hicks]] in 1923, and [[Diana Churchill]] in 1928.
==Primrose League== {{main|Primrose League}} The Primrose League was formed in 1883 to continue the legacy of Disraeli by spreading and popularising traditional Conservative ideals, including the British monarchy, the [[British Empire]], the [[Anglicanism|Anglican Church]], and free enterprise. Promoted by [[Lord Randolph Churchill]], who advocated [[One-nation conservatism|Tory Democracy]], the League grew rapidly, with over half a million members by 1887, a million by 1901 and over 2 million members by 1910, roughly equally women and men. The Primrose League faded with universal suffrage after the First World War when the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] pursued direct mass party membership, and was formally wound up in 2004.
<gallery heights=200px mode=packed> File:Frank Bramley (1857-1915) - Primrose Day - T03962 - Tate.jpg|[[Frank Bramley]],1885, ''Primrose Day'', [[Tate Gallery]] File:Ralph Todd - Primrose Day 1885.jpg|[[Ralph Todd]], 1885, ''Primrose Day'', [[Penlee House]] gallery File:W Saull - Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield - Primrose Day $$.jpg|[[Wood engraving]] by [[W. Saull]], showing [[Statue of Benjamin Disraeli, Parliament Square|Disraeli's statue in Parliament Square]] decorated with [[Primula vulgaris|primrose]]s on Primrose Day, published in [[Harper's Bazaar]], 1886 File:Primrose League.jpg|[[Primrose League]] badges </gallery>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw122684/Primrose-Day-Benjamin-Disraeli-Earl-of-Beaconsfield 'Primrose Day' (Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield)], by W. Saull, published by Harper's Bazaar, National Portrait Gallery * British Pathé ** [https://www.britishpathe.com/video/primrose-day-in-london/ Primrose Day In London 1916] ** [https://www.britishpathe.com/video/primrose-day-1/ Austen Chamberlain and Primrose League Pilgrims lay wreaths on the grave of Lord Beaconsfield on Primrose Day 1921] ** [https://www.britishpathe.com/video/primrose-day-lord-beaconsfield/ Sir W. Joynson-Hicks lays tribute to Lord Beaconsfield on Primrose Day 1923] ** [https://www.britishpathe.com/video/primrose-day A statue to Benjamin Disraeli is unveiled in Liverpool on Primrose Day 1926] ** [https://www.britishpathe.com/video/primrose-day-2/ Diana Churchill heads the 'Primrose Day' ceremony 1928]
[[Category:April observances]] [[Category:Observances honoring the dead]] [[Category:Benjamin Disraeli]]