First Palmerston ministry

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

First Palmerston ministry
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government, 1901-1952).svg
1855–1858
Henry John Temple (cropped).png
Palmerston (1857)
Date formed6 February 1855 (1855-02-06)
Date dissolved19 February 1858 (1858-02-19)
People and organisations
Monarch Victoria
Prime Minister Viscount Palmerston
Total no. of members110 appointments
Member party Whig Party
Status in legislature
Opposition party Conservative Party
Opposition leaders
History
Election 1857 general election
Legislature terms
Predecessor Aberdeen ministry
Successor Second Derby–Disraeli ministry

Lord Palmerston, of the Whigs, first formed a government by popular demand in 1855, after the resignation of the Aberdeen Coalition. Initially, the government was a continuation of the previous coalition administration but lost three Peelites (William Ewart Gladstone, Sir James Graham and Sidney Herbert) within a few weeks. However, other Peelites like The Duke of Argyll and The Viscount Canning remained in office. Palmerston was heavily criticised by Parliament in 1857 over the conduct of the Second Opium War and called a dissolution, but the nation voiced its support in the resulting general election and he returned with a Whig majority. [1]

Contents

In 1858, the Government resigned when defeated (on a measure for removing conspiracies to murder abroad from the class of misdemeanour to that of felony, which was introduced in consequence of Felice Orsini's attempt on the life of Napoleon III the emperor of the French) and was succeeded by another short-lived Conservative government under Disraeli and Lord Derby. [1]

Cabinet

Portrait of Lord Palmerston by John Partridge Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston by John Partridge.jpg
Portrait of Lord Palmerston by John Partridge

February 1855 – February 1858

PortfolioMinisterTookofficeLeftoffice
(head of ministry)6 February 1855 (1855-02-06)21 February 1858 (1858-02-21)
Lord Chancellor 28 December 1852 (1852-12-28)21 February 1858 (1858-02-21)
8 February 1855 (1855-02-08)21 February 1858 (1858-02-21)
Lord Privy Seal 4 January 1853 (1853-01-04)7 December 1855 (1855-12-07)
7 December 1855 (1855-12-07)3 February 1858 (1858-02-03)
3 February 1858 (1858-02-03)21 February 1858 (1858-02-21)
Secretary of State for the Home Department 8 February 1855 (1855-02-08)26 February 1858 (1858-02-26)
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 21 February 1853 (1853-02-21)26 February 1858 (1858-02-26)
Secretary of State for the Colonies 8 February 1855 (1855-02-08)21 February 1855 (1855-02-21)
23 February 1855 (1855-02-23)21 July 1855 (1855-07-21)
21 July 1855 (1855-07-21)22 October 1855 (1855-10-22)
21 November 1855 (1855-11-21)21 October 1858 (1858-10-21)
Secretary of State for War 8 February 1855 (1855-02-08)21 February 1858 (1858-02-21)
First Lord of the Admiralty 30 December 1852 (1852-12-30)13 March 1855 (1855-03-13)
13 March 1855 (1855-03-13)8 March 1858 (1858-03-08)
Chancellor of the Exchequer 30 December 1852 (1852-12-30)5 March 1855 (1855-03-05)
5 March 1855 (1855-03-05)26 February 1858 (1858-02-26)
President of the Board of Control 30 December 1852 (1852-12-30)3 May 1855 (1855-05-03)
3 May 1855 (1855-05-03)21 February 1858 (1858-02-21)
President of the Board of Trade 27 November 1855 (1855-11-27)21 February 1858 (1858-02-21)
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 31 March 1855 (1855-03-31)7 December 1855 (1855-12-07)
7 December 1855 (1855-12-07)21 February 1858 (1858-02-21)
First Commissioner of Works 5 January 1853 (1853-01-05)21 July 1855 (1855-07-21)
Postmaster General 5 January 1853 (1853-01-05)1855 (1855)
30 November 1855 (1855-11-30)21 February 1858 (1858-02-21)
Minister without portfolio 28 December 1852 (1852-12-28)21 February 1858 (1858-02-21)

Changes

  • Later in February 1855 – Sir George Cornewall Lewis succeeds Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Lord John Russell succeeds Herbert as Colonial Secretary. Sir Charles Wood succeeds Sir James Graham as First Lord of the Admiralty. R.V. Smith succeeds Wood as President of the Board of Control
  • July 1855 – Sir William Molesworth succeeds Russell as Colonial Secretary. Molesworth's successor as First Commissioner of Public Works is not in the Cabinet.
  • November 1855 – Henry Labouchere succeeds Molesworth as Colonial Secretary
  • December 1855 – The Duke of Argyll succeeds Lord Canning as Postmaster-General. Lord Harrowby succeeds Argyll as Lord Privy Seal. Harrowby's successor as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is not in the Cabinet
  • 1857 – M.T. Baines, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, enters the Cabinet.
  • February 1858 – Lord Clanricarde succeeds Harrowby as Lord Privy Seal.

List of ministers

Members of the Cabinet are indicated by bold face.

OfficeNameDateNotes
Prime Minister,
First Lord of the Treasury
and Leader of the House of Commons
The Viscount Palmerston 6 February 1855 – 21 February 1858 
Chancellor of the Exchequer William Ewart Gladstone 30 December 1852continued in office
Sir George Cornewall Lewis 28 February 1855 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury William Goodenough Hayter 5 January 1853continued in office
Financial Secretary to the Treasury James Wilson 5 January 1853continued in office
Junior Lords of the Treasury Lord Alfred Hervey 1 January 1853 – 7 March 1855continued in office
Lord Elcho 1 January 1853 – 7 March 1855
Chichester Fortescue 6 March 1854 – 16 April 1855
The Viscount Monck 7 March 1855 – 21 February 1858 
Viscount Duncan 7 March 1855 – 21 February 1858
Henry Brand 16 April 1855 – 21 February 1858
Lord Chancellor The Lord Cranworth 28 December 1852continued in office
Lord President of the Council
and Leader of the House of Lords
The Earl Granville 8 February 1855 
Lord Privy Seal The Duke of Argyll 4 January 1853continued in office
The Earl of Harrowby 7 December 1855 
The Marquess of Clanricarde 3 February 1858
Secretary of State for the Home Department Sir George Grey 8 February 1855 
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department Henry Fitzroy 28 December 1852continued in office
William Cowper 16 February 1855 
William Nathaniel Massey 13 August 1855
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs The Earl of Clarendon 21 February 1853continued in office
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs The Lord Wodehouse 28 December 1852continued in office
Earl of Shelburne 5 July 1856 
Secretary of State for War The Lord Panmure 8 February 1855 
Under-Secretary of State for War Frederick Peel February 1855 
Sir John Ramsden May 1857
Secretary of State for the Colonies Sidney Herbert 8 February 1855 
Lord John Russell 23 February 1855
Sir William Molesworth 21 July 1855
Henry Labouchere 21 November 1855
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies John Ball 8 February 1855 
Chichester Fortescue June 1857
First Lord of the Admiralty Sir James Graham 30 December 1852continued in office
Sir Charles Wood 13 March 1855 
First Secretary of the Admiralty Ralph Bernal Osborne 6 January 1853continued in office
Civil Lord of the Admiralty Sir Robert Peel 13 March 1855 
Thomas Baring 27 May 1857
President of the Board of Control Sir Charles Wood 30 December 1852continued in office
Robert Vernon Smith 3 March 1855 
Joint Secretary to the Board of Control Henry Danby Seymour 3 April 1855 
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster vacant  
The Earl of Harrowby 31 March 1855
Matthew Talbot Baines 7 December 1855
Minister without Portfolio The Marquess of Lansdowne 28 December 1852 – 21 February 1858 
Postmaster-General The Viscount Canning 5 January 1853continued in office
The Duke of Argyll 30 November 1855 
President of the Board of Trade Edward Cardwell 28 December 1852continued in office
The Lord Stanley of Alderley 31 March 1855entered the Cabinet 27 November 1855
Vice-President of the Board of Trade The Lord Stanley of Alderley 4 January 1853continued in office
Edward Pleydell-Bouverie 31 March 1855 
Robert Lowe 13 August 1855
First Commissioner of Works Sir William Molesworth 5 January 1853continued in office
Sir Benjamin Hall 21 July 1855 
Vice-President of the Committee on Education William Cowper 5 February 1857 
President of the Board of Health Sir Benjamin Hall 14 January 1854continued in office
William Cowper 13 August 1855 
William Monsell 9 February 1857
William Cowper 24 September 1857
Chief Secretary for Ireland Sir John Young 6 January 1853continued in office
Edward Horsman 1 March 1855 
Henry Arthur Herbert 27 May 1857
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland The Earl of Carlisle 7 March 1855 
Master-General of the Ordnance The Lord Raglan 30 September 1852Board of Ordnance abolished 25 May 1855
and duties vested in Secretary of State for
War; the post of Surveyor-General remained
but was not filled.
Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance Sir Hew Dalrymple Ross 6 May 1854
Surveyor-General of the Ordnance vacant
Storekeeper of the Ordnance Sir Thomas Hastings 25 July 1845
Clerk of the Ordnance William Monsell 13 January 1853clerkship abolished 1857
Paymaster General Lord Stanley of Alderley 4 January 1853continued in office
Edward Pleydell-Bouverie 31 March 1855 
Robert Lowe 13 August 1855
President of the Poor Law Board Matthew Talbot Baines 30 December 1852continued in office
Edward Pleydell-Bouverie 13 August 1855 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Poor Law Board Grenville Berkeley 7 January 1853continued in office
Ralph Grey 9 May 1856 
Attorney General Sir Alexander Cockburn 28 December 1852continued in office
Sir Richard Bethell 15 November 1856 
Solicitor General Sir Richard Bethell 28 December 1852continued in office
James Stuart-Wortley 22 November 1856 
Sir Henry Singer Keating 28 May 1857
Judge Advocate General Charles Pelham Villiers 30 December 1852continued in office
Lord Advocate James Moncreiff 30 December 1852continued in office
Solicitor General for Scotland Edward Maitland 14 February 1855 
Attorney General for Ireland Abraham Brewster April 1853continued in office
William Keogh March 1855 
John Fitzgerald March 1856
Solicitor General for Ireland William Keogh April 1853continued in office
John Fitzgerald March 1855 
Jonathan Christian March 1856
Lord Steward of the Household The Earl Spencer 10 January 1854continued in office
The Earl of St Germans 23 November 1857 
Lord Chamberlain of the Household The Marquess of Breadalbane 15 January 1853continued in office
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household Lord Ernest Bruce 30 December 1852continued in office
Master of the Horse The Duke of Wellington 21 January 1853continued in office
Treasurer of the Household Earl of Mulgrave 4 January 1853continued in office
Comptroller of the Household Viscount Drumlanrig 4 January 1853continued in office
Viscount Castlerosse 25 July 1856 
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms The Lord Foley 30 December 1852continued in office
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard The Viscount Sydney 30 December 1852continued in office
Master of the Buckhounds The Earl of Bessborough 30 December 1852continued in office
Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal Lord Alfred Paget 30 December 1852continued in office
Mistress of the Robes The Duchess of Sutherland 15 January 1853continued in office
Lords in Waiting The Earl Somers 13 January 1853 – 22 February 1857 
The Lord Camoys 13 January 1853 – 21 February 1858
The Lord Rivers 13 January 1853 – 21 February 1858
The Lord Waterpark 13 January 1853 – 21 February 1858
The Lord de Tabley 13 January 1853 – 21 February 1858
The Earl of Listowel 1 October 1853 – 21 February 1856
The Lord Dufferin and Clandeboye 28 November 1854 – 21 February 1858
The Earl of Caithness 15 April 1856 – 21 February 1858
The Lord Cremorne 22 February 1857 – 21 February 1858

Notes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen</span> British politician

George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen, styled Lord Haddo from 1791 to 1801, was a British statesman, diplomat and landowner, successively a Tory, Conservative and Peelite politician and specialist in foreign affairs. He served as Prime Minister from 1852 until 1855 in a coalition between the Whigs and Peelites, with Radical and Irish support. The Aberdeen ministry was filled with powerful and talented politicians, whom Aberdeen was largely unable to control and direct. Despite his trying to avoid this happening, it took Britain into the Crimean War, and fell when its conduct became unpopular, after which Aberdeen retired from politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston</span> 19th-century British prime minister

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston,, known as Lord Palmerston, was a British statesman and politician who was twice prime minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century. Palmerston dominated British foreign policy during the period 1830 to 1865, when Britain stood at the height of its imperial power. He held office almost continuously from 1807 until his death in 1865. He began his parliamentary career as a Tory, defected to the Whigs in 1830, and became the first prime minister from the newly formed Liberal Party in 1859. He was highly popular with the British public. David Brown argues that "an important part of Palmerston's appeal lay in his dynamism and vigour".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich</span> Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1827 to 1828

Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon,, styled The Honourable F. J. Robinson until 1827 and known between 1827 and 1833 as The Viscount Goderich, the name by which he is best known to history, was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1827 to 1828.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley</span> British Liberal politician

John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley, known as the Lord Wodehouse from 1846 to 1866, was a British Liberal politician. He held office in every Liberal administration from 1852 to 1895, notably as Secretary of State for the Colonies and as Foreign Secretary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax</span> British politician (1800–1885)

Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax, known as Sir Charles Wood, 3rd Baronet, between 1846 and 1866, was a British Whig politician and Member of the British Parliament. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1846 to 1852.

The Peelites were a breakaway political faction of the British Conservative Party from 1846 to 1859. Initially led by Robert Peel, the former Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader in 1846, the Peelites supported free trade whilst the bulk of the Conservative Party remained protectionist. The Peelites later merged with the Whigs and Radicals to form the Liberal Party in 1859.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet</span> British Whig politician

Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet, PC was a British Whig politician and a scion of the noble House of Grey. He held office under four Prime Ministers, Lord Melbourne, Lord John Russell, Lord Aberdeen, and Lord Palmerston, notably serving three times as Home Secretary for a collective 13 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll</span> British polymath and statesman (1823–1900)

George John Douglas Campbell, 8th and 1st Duke of Argyll, was a Scottish polymath and Liberal statesman. He made a significant geological discovery in the 1850s when his tenant found fossilized leaves embedded among basalt lava on the Island of Mull. He also helped to popularize ornithology and was one of the first to give a detailed account of the principles of bird flight in the hopes of advancing artificial aerial navigation. His literary output was extensive writing on topics varying from science and theology to economy and politics. In addition to this, he served prominently in the administrations of Lord Aberdeen, Lord Palmerston, John Russell and William Gladstone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dudley Ryder, 2nd Earl of Harrowby</span> British politician

Dudley Ryder, 2nd Earl of Harrowby, KG, PC, FRS, styled Viscount Sandon between 1809 and 1847, was a British politician. He held office under Lord Palmerston as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in 1855 and as Lord Privy Seal between 1855 and 1858.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Cardwell, 1st Viscount Cardwell</span> British politician (1813–1886)

Edward Cardwell, 1st Viscount Cardwell, was a prominent British politician in the Peelite and Liberal parties during the middle of the 19th century. He is best remembered for his tenure as Secretary of State for War between 1868 and 1874 and, with William Ewart Gladstone's support, the introduction of the Cardwell Reforms. The goal was to centralise the power of the War Office, abolish purchase of officers' commissions, and to create reserve forces stationed in Britain by establishing short terms of service for enlisted men.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Melbourne ministry</span> Government of the United Kingdom

The second Lord Melbourne ministry was formed in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland by the Viscount Melbourne in 1835.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberal government, 1859–1866</span>

The Liberal government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland that began in 1859 and ended in 1866 consisted of two ministries: the second Palmerston ministry and the second Russell ministry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Government (1937–1939)</span> UK government, 1937–1939

The National Government of 1937–1939 was formed by Neville Chamberlain on his appointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom by King George VI. He succeeded Stanley Baldwin, who announced his resignation following the coronation of the King and Queen in May 1937.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Russell ministry</span> Government of the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1852

Whig Lord John Russell led the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1846 to 1852.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberdeen ministry</span> Government of the United Kingdom

After the collapse of Lord Derby's minority government, the Whigs and Peelites formed a coalition under the Peelite leader Lord Aberdeen. The government resigned in early 1855 after a large parliamentary majority voted for a select committee to enquire into the incompetent management of the Crimean War. The former Home Secretary, Lord Palmerston, then formed his first government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Peel ministry</span> Government of the United Kingdom

The second Peel ministry was formed by Sir Robert Peel in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1841.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Gladstone ministry</span>

After campaigning against the foreign policy of the Beaconsfield ministry, William Gladstone led the Liberal Party to victory in the 1880 general election. The nominal leader of the Party, Lord Hartington, resigned in Gladstone's favour and Gladstone was appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for a second time by Queen Victoria. He pursued a policy of parliamentary reform, but his government became wildly unpopular after the death of General Gordon in 1885. Gladstone was held responsible, and resigned, leaving the way free for the Conservatives under Lord Salisbury to form a government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conservative government, 1957–1964</span>

The Conservative government of the United Kingdom that began in 1957 and ended in 1964 consisted of three ministries: the first Macmillan ministry, second Macmillan ministry, and then the Douglas-Home ministry. They were respectively led by Harold Macmillan and Sir Alec Douglas-Home, who were appointed by Queen Elizabeth II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberal government, 1905–1915</span> Government of the United Kingdom

The Liberal government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland that began in 1905 and ended in 1915 consisted of two ministries: the first led by Henry Campbell-Bannerman and the final three by H. H. Asquith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canningite government, 1827–1828</span> Government of the United Kingdom

The Canningites, led by George Canning and then the Viscount Goderich as First Lord of the Treasury, governed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1827 until 1828.

References

Attribution:

Preceded by Government of the United Kingdom
1855–1858
Succeeded by