His career

Bagehot is chiefly remembered for his writings.  One reason for their success was his accessible style and his ability to write authoritatively from his own experience.  The three main elements of his career were his work as a writer and journalist, as a banker, and as a man of business.  Although he tried to get into Parliament, he was not elected.    His experience as a candidate for Bridgwater, a notoriously corrupt constituency, was a disappointment to him in more ways than one.  Nevertheless, his clear analytical mind meant that he was consulted, and respected, by a wide variety of important figures.