orig. Archibald Philip Primrose born May 7, 1847, London, Eng. died May 21, 1929, Epsom, Surrey British politician. He served in William E. Gladstone's governments as undersecretary for Scottish affairs (1881-83) and foreign secretary (1886, 1892-94). He succeeded Gladstone as prime minister (1894-95) but was ineffective in resolving conflicts within the Liberal Party and in passing legislation through the Conservative-dominated House of Lords. He broke with the Liberal Party by opposing Irish Home Rule (1905) and retired from public life