Benjamin Disraeli

Maiden speech, December 7, 1837 The great failure among first speeches, and the most instructive. Disraeli spoke in a debate on Irish election petitions, and Daniel O'Connell's supporters met his elaborate phrases with laughter and noise until Hansard recorded that much of what he said could not be heard. He gave up with the line still quoted to nervous new members, usually given as: though I sit down now, the time will come when you will hear me. Read it beside his later triumphs to see how far a reputation can recover from a ruined debut.