Lord Palmerston

A Brief Introduction to his Life

Contents

Who he wasBackgroundPersonal lifeRole in politics

Foreign SecretaryMethods

• Gun boat Diplomacy

Relations with European Powers

Poland 1930Belgium 1930Spain and Portugal 1930

Don Pacifico Affair 1850Eastern Question

• Mehemet Ali Crisis's

Home SecretaryInterference with foreign

policyPrime Minister

Crimean WarAmerican Civil War

ConclusionsEffectivenessSignificance

Who was Palmerston?

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston

From Irish aristocracy but keen to be English

Very popular with the public but mixed in Parliament

Hated by Queen VictoriaWomaniserCommitted to peace but had

British interests at heartBegan career as a Whig but

ended it as a LiberalJingoistic and great orator

Years in Politics

Foreign Secretary22nd November 1830 – 15th November 193418th April 1835 – 2nd September 18416th July 1846 – 26th December 1851

Home Secretary28th December 1852 – 6th February 1855

Prime Minister6th February 1855 – 19th February 185812th June 1859 – 18th October 1865

Role in Politics

Seen as a later starter for politicsRelations with WellingtonPlayed major powers against each otherNever really lets go of foreign policy

One major policy was to abolish the slave tradeBrought down government after fired

Napoleon III disputePM due to popularity with public

Same reason Queen couldn’t fire himLast PM to die in office

Foreign Secretary

Three terms in office under this positionSeen as successful but controversial in methods

usedParticularly gun-boat diplomacy

In politics in what is typically seen as the height of British power

British relations with France keyEastern Question continues to loom

Independence of GreeceMehemet Ali Crisis’s

Gun-Boat Diplomacy

The Opium Wars

TRADE!Tea major import at home1841 – Treaty of NankingEnhanced Pam’s reputationTories criticalAdmired in and out of

ParliamentBritain gained Hong Kong

(only returned in 1997)

Independence of Greece

1821-1830Palmerston urged Wellington

into active interferenceCombined with Russia and

FranceDefeat of Egyptian fleetPopular at homeLeads to the Mehmet Ali

crisis’sFrench wanted Egypt, Russia

wanted Straits

The Opium Wars Use of gun-boat diplomacy was successful in China

Relations with European Powers

Allies with FranceParticularly unpopular with publicHistorically enemiesNapoleon III

Anglo-Russian relationsUnderlying hostilityReluctant to go to war with each other

Belief Ottoman Empire must be kept ‘alive’ by all the major powers

Britain was Liberal but not RevolutionaryIndependence of BelgiumIberian PeninsularPoland revolt

Map of Europe 1830 Britain, Russia, Austria, France and Prussia all major powers

Suppression of Poland 1830

Not much that Britain could doMilitarily weakNo diplomatic footing to use

Within Prussian and Russian territoryHad to just sit by and watchUnpopular at home

Kingdom of Belgium 1830

Important to Britain due to geographical locationThreat of being invaded

Balance of power in Europe if Dutch or French controlled Belgium

France wanted to annex BelgiumHappy for it to be independent

Question of King of Belgians almost led to warResolved by Prince from England allowed to marry lesser

Princess from FranceOperated like Canning

Queens of Spain and Portugal

Youthful Queens in Spain and PortugalProblem of who they should marry

Opposition from absolutists in their own countriesBritain felt the need to preserve the constitutionalist’s

QueensFrance wanted some power thereTreaty for pacification signed in London 22nd April 1834

France reluctantMaria II of Portugal married Napoleon I’s grandson (suited

France), then German Prince (suited Britain)Isabella II of Spain married her Spanish cousin which suited

France not Britain

Don Pacifico Affair 1850

With Greece independent it was under the protection of Britain, Russia and France

The claim:Police did nothing while Don Pacifico’s home was

vandalisedSome of the mob included sons of a government ministerAppealed to Greek government for compensation but lostTurned to help from Britain as a British citizen from

GibraltarThe result was a blockade on Greece causing

diplomatic tensions between powers

Eastern Question

Ottoman Empire at point of collapseIf it collapses who gets it – war inevitableNo one can afford a war but no diplomatic ‘carving up’ of

Ottoman Empire likely to be agreedRussia needed Black Sea as its unfrozen and thus

needs access to the Straits – under Ottoman control

Britain and France worry about Russian powerAustrians weakening but typically allies of RussiaCoincides with 1842’s Reform Act

Mehmet Ali Crisis’s

First Crisis 1830

Egyptians not happy with compensation for losses in Greek revolt

Went to war with OttomansRussia there to help but France

and Britain busy elsewhereLed to Treaty of Unkiar Skelessi

1833Led to Straits ProblemStraits closed when Russia at warFrance and Britain unhappy at

Russian expansion and threat

Second Crisis 1839

Sultan dies and chance for Egyptians to try expansion

Britain and Russia intervene to stop collapse of Ottomans

France pro-Mehmet Ali but not strong enough for war

Compromise reached1841 London Straits

ConventionRe-established previous rule of

the StraitsPreservation of Ottomans

Straits and Crimea Map of the Black Sea includes Straits and Crimea

Role as Home Secretary

Interfered with foreign policy continuouslyCrimean War

Some believed he helped createdAlthough many believed he was the only one that could help

BritainOthers now believe it may not have happened if he was

Foreign SecretaryThere because they had to have him there in a Whig-

Peelite coalitionPalmerston strongly opposed much of Russell’s plans

like the urban working class being able to voteHe resigned but was persuaded to return

Prime Minister

Queen reluctant to make Palmerston PMLittle choice when others declined positionPopularity also a major factor

Crimean WarEnded due to peace talks when Alexander II ascended to

the throneFrance major winnerPeace treaty signed 30th March 1856

Second Opium WarPalmerston backed legally and morally wrong actionsPopular with public, winning the biggest majority since 1835

Second Premiership

American Civil WarGave Confederation a ship despite being ‘neutral’When North won they wanted compensationPalmerston refused to pay or refer to the dispute

• Gladstone would pay $15,500,000 in gold but keep Canada

He won another general election in July 1865Problems in Ireland

Suspension of trial-by-juryMonitor Americans going to Ireland

Death

He died 18th October 1865Wanted o be buried at Romsey AbbeyGiven a State funeral and buried at Westminster

Abby27th October 1865

Fourth person to be buried there who wasn’t royaltySir Isaac NewtonLord NelsonDuke of Wellington

Conclusions

Very popular with the public despite some decisionsAllies with FranceRecognition of Napoleon III

Mostly effective at securing British interestsBelgiumSpain and PortugalStraits ConventionOpium Wars

Not ‘soft’ on Foreign Policy and seen as his great strengthAmerican compensation, compare to Gladstone

Remembered as light-heartedFlorence Nightingale

Disagreement

Some disagreement lies with whether he was a Liberal or Conservative or both...

Sir Henry Balwer and Evelyn Ashley call him a Liberal

D. Southgate and J. Vincent claim he was a Liberal in Europe but Conservative at home

E.D. Steele claims he was a Progressive

Personal opinion... he was pragmatic!