Lord Drummond (Pallisers)

Lord Drummond is a fictional character in the Palliser series of novels by Anthony Trollope. For historical holders of the title, see Lord Drummond.

Lord Drummond first appears in "Phineas Redux" as Secretary of State for War in the Conservative government of Mr Daubeny. As a peer, he sits in the House of Lords. He and a Mr Boffin are the only members of the government to resign over the Prime Minister's controversial proposals for reform of the Church of England. Mr Daubeny's government eventually falls over the issue, but on his return to power Lord Drummond rejoins him as Secretary of State for the Colonies. When the Duke of Omnium forms his Coalition Government at the beginning of "The Prime Minister", Lord Drummond remains at the Colonial Office, and remains loyal to the Duke although there is some tension between them. However, when the Duke makes the little-known Earl of Earlybird a Knight of the Garter in preference to Lord Drummond, the latter peer openly falls out with his Prime Minister. The opposition of Lord Drummond and several others of the government over the issue of County Suffrage leads to the downfall of the Coalition, and Mr Gresham forms a weak Liberal Government. This government falls early in "The Duke's Children", and Lord Drummond becomes Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Relations are strained between him and his Leader of the House of Commons, Sir Timothy Beeswax, and for a while it seems likely that Lord Drummond will resign in Sir Timothy's favour. However, Lord Drummond prefers to let the Liberals take power than allow for the continuance of his own party under Sir Timothy Beeswax, and so Mr Monk forms a Liberal government (with the Duke of Omnium as Lord President of the Council).