Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli Favored the Primrose and Here’s the Charming Reason Why

April 19th, 1881

On this day, Queen Victoria's favorite Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, died.

April 19th became Primrose Day to commemorate his death because his favorite flower was the Primrose.

The Primrose name comes from the Latin primus, meaning first rose.

After Benjamin died, a little story made the rounds in the papers called The Beaconsfield and the Primrose. (Benjamin Disraeli was also dubbed the Earl of Beaconsfield.)

I'll paraphrase the story here:

Benjamin's fondness for the primrose originated when he lived in Highbury, London.

There, he fancied a young woman and together the two attended a ball.

 

The young lady wore a wreath of primroses.

When there was speculation that the primroses might be fake, Benjamin bet another gentleman a pair of gloves that the primroses were real.

 

Turned out, the primroses were real primroses.

Benjamin got the gloves and in return, the lady gave him a primrose for his buttonhole.

 

After that, Benjamin Disraeli always had a fondness for the primrose.