godfathers. He was through life influenced by the religious temper of his home training. On 13 Aug. 1838 his father's sister Anna married Edward (afterwards Viscount) Cardwell [q. v.], whose political views he came to share. Parker was at Eton from 1842 to 1847, and won in 1846 the Prince Consort's prize for German. On 10 June 1847 he matriculated from Brasenose College, Oxford, but gaining a scholarship at University College next year migrated thither. At University College, with which he was long closely associated, he formed intimacies with Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, Groldwin Smith, John Conington, Arthur Gray Butler, William Bright, and T, W. Jex-Blake, afterwards dean of Wells. Friends at other colleges included Arthur Peel, afterwards Speaker of the House of Commons, G. C. Brodrick, Thomas Hill Green [q. v.], George Joachim Goschen, W. H. Fremantle (Dean of Ripon), Mr. Frederic Harrison, and Grant Duff. In 1852 he joined Goschen, Brodrick, and others in starting the Oxford Essay Club, and he frequently attended the club dinners in later life at Goschen's house and elsewhere.
In Easter term 1852 Parker was placed in the first class in the final classical school, and in the second class of the mathematical school. He graduated B.A. and proceeded M.A. in 1855. He was elected fellow of his college in 1854, and retained the office till 1867. He resided at Oxford till 1864, throwing himself with vigour into the work of both college and university. He was college tutor from 1858 to 1865, and lectured in modern history. He was examiner in the final classical school in 1859, 1860, 1863, and 1868. He won the confidence of under-graduates, and introduced them to men of note from the outer world, whom from an early date he entertained at Oxford. He organised the university volunteer corps and did much while major of the battalion (1865-8) to improve its efficiency, especially in shooting. The main recreation of his university days was mountaineering. He preferred climbing without guides, and it was without guides that he with his brothers Alfred and Sandbach made the second and fourth attempts on the Matterhom in 1860 and 1861 respectively (cf. Whymper's Scrambles amongst the Alfs). Subsequently Parker's companions in the Alps included William Henry Gladstone and Stephen Gladstone, sons of the statesman, who was an early friend of Parker and his family.
Like Brodrick, Goldwin Smith, and other brilliant Oxford men, Parker was a contributor to the early issues of the 'Saturday Review' in 1855, but he soon withdrew owing to hi dislike of the cynical tone of the paper, and a characteristic impatience of its partisan spirit. He gradually concentrated his interest on a liberal reform of the university. He especially urged a prudent recognition of the claims of science, modern history, and modern languages in the academic curriculum, and the throwing open of scholarships to competition. He early declared for a national system of elementary education which should be efficient and compulsory, rather than voluntary. In 1867 he published two essays, one on ’Popular Education' in 'Questions for a Reformed Parliament,' and the other on 'Classical Education' in F. W. Farrar's 'Essays on a Liberal Education.'
In 1864 Parker, who inherited ample means, diversified his academic duties by becoming private secretary to Edward Cardwell, whose wife was his aunt. Cardwell was then colonial secretary, and Parker remained with him till he went out of office in 1866. At the wish of Gladstone, with whom his relations steadily became closer, he stood for Perthshire in 1868 in the liberal interest, gaining a startling victory over the former conservative member, Sir William Stirling Maxwell [q. v.]. He remained in the House of Commons throughout Gladstone's first administration, but was defeated by Stirling Maxwell in his old constituency at the general election of 1874. He was however re-elected for the city of Perth in 1878, and retained the seat till 1892, when he was defeated in a three-cornered contest. He failed to win a seat in West Perthshire in 1900. His refinement of manner and accent militated against his gaining the ear of the house, but his leaders respected him for his conscientious study of political issues and his judicial habit of mind. During his first parliament he was in constant touch with his old chief Cardwell, then secretary for war, and supported the abolition of purchase and Cardwell' s other reforms of the army. He was often consulted by Gladstone, to whose measures and policy throughout his parliamentary career he gave a discriminating assent. At Gladstone's invitation he revised his speeches for the Midlothian campaign of 1878-80.
But it was on educational policy that Parker exerted his chief influence. Joining the public schools commission (1868-74), he proved one of its most active members, urging that the public school curriculum
