We’re back in 1848, with the Year of Revolutions, a few of which succeeded, most of which were put down – not least in Northern Italy, where Joseph Radetzky, celebrated in a cheerful Strauss tune, proved far less cheerful in his treatment of opponents to Austrian rule.

Britain, on the other hand, saw no revolution, though many feared one from the Chartists. In the event, the last shout of Chartism turned out to be little more than a whimper, disarmed by improved economic conditions and channels to funnel protest into less harmful directions.

!848 also saw the moment when the majority wing of the split Conservative Party, the Protectionists, opposed to Repeal of the Corn Laws, could have found a new leader in Benjamin Disraeli. But he was just too eccentric, perhaps too Jewish, somehow too foreign, and he was passed over. The first of several occasions when he was denied, until late 1851. Then he at last secured the position of Leader of the Party in the Commons (under the overall leader, Stanley).

At least that meant that he was in a leading position just as his party formed a government again. So he was poised to enter government for the first time, and in a senior position too.

Illustration: On the barricades on the Rue Soufflot, Paris, 25 June 1848 by Horace Vernet