Bought this tile from the last Elsecar. I knew it was Gladstone, but had no real idea about why he was that famous as to be remembered on a tile.

Anyway, back to Wikipedia...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ewart_Gladstone

William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS (29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four times (1868–1874, 1880–1885, February–July 1886 and 1892–1894), more than any other person. Gladstone was 84 years old - still physically vigorous albeit with failing hearing and eyesight - when he resigned for the last time, making him Britain's oldest Prime Minister. He also served as Chancellor of the Exchequer four times (1853–1855, 1859–1866, 1873–1874, and 1880–1882).