An ordinary man can surround himself with two thousand books and thenceforward have at least one place in the world in which it is possible to be happy.

He was returned for Bristol North at the general election of 1906 in which the Liberals won a large majority and was included in the cabinet of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman as President of the Board of Education. H. Later life
Birrell did not defend his seat in the 1918 general election nor did he ever return to Ireland.

Augustine Birrell PC KC (19 January 1850 – 20 November 1933) was an English politician barrister academic and author. He was Chief Secretary for Ireland from 1907 to 1916 resigning in the immediate aftermath of the Easter Rising.