British Statesman. 1st and last Viscount Cardwell of Ellerbeck. Born the son of John Cardwell, a merchant, and Elizabeth Birley; he was educated at Winchester College and Balliol College, Oxford University, Oxford. He was graduated in 1835 with a Bachelor of Arts and was admitted to Inner Temple in 1838 entitled to practice as a Barrister. He earned a Master of Arts from Balliol College, Oxford in 1838. He sat as a Member of Parliament for Clitheroe between 1842 and 1847. He held the office of Joint Secretary of the Treasury between 1845 and 1846 and sat as Member of Parliament for Liverpool between 1847 and 1852. He held the office of President of the Board of Trade between 1852 and 1855 and the office of Ecclesiastical Commissioner between 1852 and 1882. He was invested as a Privy Counselor in 1852 and sat as Member of Parliament for Oxford City between 1853 and 1874. He was Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland between 1859 and 1861 and was invested as a Privy Counselor, Ireland in 1859. He held the office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster between 1861 and 1864 and Secretary of State for the Colonies between April 1864 and July 1866. He was Secretary of State for War between December 1868 and February 1874 during which he abolished flogging as a military punishment in peacetime; shortened the army enlistment term from 12 years active service to six years active duty and six years reserve; abolished the payment of enlistment bounties; introducing the system of linked battalions, with one at home and one overseas; laid the modern foundation of the British army's regimental system; and in 1871, over the almost unanimous opposition of senior officers, he abolished the purchase of military commissions. He was considered to be the greatest British military reformer of the 19th century. He was invested as a Fellow, Royal Society in December 1873. He was created 1st Viscount Cardwell of Ellerbeck, in March 1874. He died at age 72 at Villa Como, Torquay, Devon. On his death, his titles became extinct.