"There's the last kick. My dear fellow, I don't mind. I've been Prime Minister for longer than I deserve" to his Private Secretary shortly after he resigned

On his own health regime: "Personally I am an immense believer in bed, in constantly keeping horizontal: the heart and everything else goes slower, and the whole system is refreshed"

"Good government could never be a substitute for government by the people themselves."

Biography:

Henry Campbell-Bannerman was the first Prime Minister to be given official use of the title 'Prime Minister'. Known as CB, he was a firm believer in free trade, Irish Home Rule and the improvement of social conditions. The son of the Lord Provost of Glasgow, he was educated at Glasgow High School and at Glasgow and Cambridge universities.

In 1868 he was elected the Liberal MP for Stirling Burghs. Gladstone appointed him Financial Secretary at the War Office, and then Secretary of State for War in his next two governments. He held the position again under Rosebery. He later became Liberal leader, and was seen as "a safe pair of hands".

The Liberals split over the Boer War, with Lloyd George joining CB in denouncing the campaign, and CB himself caused a furore by refusing to withdraw his remarks about Kitchener's "methods of barbarism" being used to win the war.

Following Balfour's resignation in 1905, Edward VII invited Campbell-Bannerman, as leader of the next largest party, to form a government. CB accepted the King's offer. His government became known for being strong and efficient, and he skilfully ensured that it embraced all wings of the Liberal party. The Liberals went on to win the 1906 election.

Following this win CB restored autonomy to the Transvaal and the Orange Free State (both parts of South Africa), and clashed with the Lords over an Education Bill. Ill health forced Campbell-Bannerman to resign in April 1908, but he remained in Number 10 until he died almost three weeks later.