"As a young man, Gorst spent three and a half turbulent years in New Zealand at the time of the Maori wars, before returning to England and being called to the Bar. However, before he could properly establish his law practice, Gorst was distracted by the lure of politics, which would be his life-long passion. He became a Conservative MP in 1866, and was thereafter in the House of Commons on and off for 32 years, where he acquired a reputation as a notable parliamentarian, being described by some as second only to Joseph Chamberlain as a debater."--Jacket.