PALMERSTON, HENRY JOHN TEMPLE, VISCOUNT, an English statesman; born in 1784. In 1807 he was named a lord of the Admiralty un der the Tory administration of the Duke of Portland. In 1809 he was appointed Secretary of War, and remained in the office nearly 20 years. His political views having changed, he retired from Wellington's administration in 1828. Resumed his work in the Foreign Office the following year, after the fall of the Peel ministry. He became famous as foreign minister in the six years of office. Was appointed Foreign Secretary in the Whig administration of Lord John Russell. Serious differences with his colleagues over Napoleon's coup d'etat, forced his resignation. On the ac cession of the Coalition Administration in the following year, he took the office of Home Secretary. The mismanage ment of affairs in the Crimea caused the fall of the Coalition ministry in 1855; im mediately after which Lord Palmerston reached the apex of power as First Lord of the Treasury, and prime minister of Great Britain. As prime minister he
successfully carried out the policy of al liance with France and the war with Russia which ended with the fall of Se bastopol, in September, 1855. Feebly supported, however, by his colleagues, he lost strength in the House, and his administration finally fell, February, 1858, 'on the Conspiracy Bill. The sec ond Derby administration succeeded, but a year later Palmerston was again called to he prime minister. With surprising energy and industry, he directed the Eng lish policy through the Italian War, the American War, and the Polish insurrec tion. He died Oct. 18, 1865.