Henry John Temple Biography

Birth of Henry John Temple

Educated at Harrow School (1795'g1800)

Studies at the University of Edinburgh (1800'g1803), where he learnt political economy from Dugald Stewart, a friend of the Scottish philosophers Adam Ferguson and Adam Smith

Created Viscount Palmerston. The young 3rd Lord Palmerston also inherited a vast country estate in the north of County Sligo in the west of Ireland

Palmerston studies at St John's College, Cambridge (1803'g1806)

Appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Commander of the Romsey Volunteers

Obtains First Class honours

Palmerston was defeated in the election for the University of Cambridge constituency

Elected for Horsham but was unseated in January 1807, when the Whig majority in the Commons voted for a petition to unseat him

Palmerston stood again for the Cambridge seat in May but he lost by three votes after he advised his supporters to vote for the other Tory candidate in the two-member constituency so as to ensure a Tory was elected

Palmerston enters Parliament as Tory MP for the pocket borough of Newport on the Isle of Wight

Palmerston enters Parliament as Tory MP for the pocket borough of Newport on the Isle of Wight

Refuses to become Chief Secretary for Ireland because of his liking for London society

Appointed Secretary for War

Votes in favour of Catholic Emanicipation

"The Protestants will support me as a Tory & the Whigs as a Catholic"

Makes a speech in the Commons supporting flogging in the Army

Speaks for Catholic Emancipation in the Commons saying there could be civil war

Speaks against the Bill to suppress OConnells Catholic Association

Appointed Foreign Secretary in Lord Grey's government.

Informs Belgium that it has no claim to Luxemburg. Informs Belgium any threat to Luxemburg will justify intervention of the German States

The Conference formally agrees to the independence of Belgium from Holland

The Conference agrees on the Belgian borders, the Bases de Separation

Persuades France to accept the Bases de Separation for Belgian frontiers

Persuades France to accept the Bases de Separation for Belgian frontiers

Persuades France to accept the Bases de Separation for Belgian frontiers

Persuades France to accept the Bases de Separation for Belgian frontiers

Agrees to Leopolds demands that Luxemburg should become part of Belgium

Agrees to Leopolds demands that Luxemburg should become part of Belgium

The Dutch invade Belgium after Palmerston allows Luxemburg to become part of Belgium

The Dutch invade Belgium after Palmerston allows Luxemburg to become part of Belgium

Grants Greek independence

Grants Greek independence

Changes the custom of writing diplomatic despatches in French to English

Helps but down absolutist rebellion in Spain & Portugal

Britain, France, Spain & Portugal counter the "Holy Alliance"

Appointed Foreign Minister, 2nd term

Prepared to lend Spain 5,000 pounds to pay wage arrears for soldiers of the British Legion

Refuses to ratify the trade agreement & loan to Spain. Asks Spain for payment of interest on loans & arms made during the Spanish Civil War

Threatens to withdraw from the Quadruple Alliance. Threatens to withdraw aid to Spain if interest to British bondholders is unpaid

Threatens to withdraw from the Quadruple Alliance

Threatens to withdraw from the Quadruple Alliance

Demands payment to bondholders, suggests revenue from the Spanish colony of Cuba

Suspends military aid to Spain until its Government pays for arms already supplied

Commits Britain to the international settlement guaranteeing Belgium as an independent and permanently neutral state.

Helps conclude the final settlement between Belgium, the Netherlands and the five Great Powers.

Commits Britain to the Great Power guarantee of Belgium's independence and perpetual neutrality.

Accepts provisions protecting navigation on the Scheldt as part of the Belgian-Dutch settlement.

Supports treaty provisions regulating navigation and commerce on the Scheldt after Belgian independence.

Signs the 1839 guarantee settlement for Britain as Foreign Secretary.

Helps complete the definitive arrangement based on the Twenty-Four Articles negotiated by the Great Powers.

Palmerston sends 16 British warships to Guangzhou

Under the Treaty of Nanking Hong Kong is ceded to Britain

The Treaty of Nanjing ends the 1st Opium War between Britain & China

Under the Treaty of Nanking Hong Kong is ceded to Britain. Opens up Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Nangpo & Shanghai, known as "the Treaty ports"

Appointed Foreign Minister, 3rd term

Anstey wants Palmerston impeached for being a foreign agent since 1828

John Delane of The Times reveals arms have been sent to Sicily

Dismissed for unauthorized approval of the coup in France by Napoleon III

Dismissed for unauthorized approval of the coup in France by Napoleon III

Meets French Ambassador, Walewski, & congratulates him on Louis Napoleon's coup

Meets French Ambassador, Walewski, & congratulates him on Louis Napoleon's coup

The Cabinet remains neutral towards Louis Napoleon after his coup

The Cabinet remains neutral towards Louis Napoleon after his coup

The Cabinet remains neutral towards Louis Napoleon after his coup

Forced to resign after supporting the coup of Louis Napoleon in France

Forced to resign after supporting the coup of Louis Napoleon in France

Causes outrage by blockading Greece in order to secure compensation for Don Pacifico

Causes outrage by blockading Greece in order to secure compensation for Don Pacifico

British naval pressure on Greece is used to force settlement of the Don Pacifico compensation dispute.

Sevastopol surrenders after the French capture Malakoff.

Sevastopol surrenders after the French capture Malakoff.

Sevastopol has fallen, the Black Sea Fleet sunk and the Baltic Fleet isolated. Gains Russian and Austrian agreement to reopen the Vienna Conference.

The Limited Liability Act reduces investors' personal exposure to company debts.

Accepts parliamentary investigation of the conduct of the war and supports administrative changes after the winter crisis.

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 1st term

Forms a new Government

Wins a vote of confidence in Parliament for pulling out of the Vienna Peace talks

Receives news of the fall of southern Sevastopol.

Awarded the Order of the Garter by Queen Victoria

Supports a settlement placing the Danubian Principalities under collective European guarantees while retaining Ottoman suzerainty.

Supports the Paris settlement limiting Russian power in the Black Sea and restructuring arrangements for the Danubian Principalities.

Supports the postwar settlement governing Moldova and Wallachia under collective European guarantees.

2nd of the 2 Opium Wars between China & Britain

Supports arrangements that later help lead toward the political union of Moldova and Wallachia.

Defends the Treaty of Paris as securing British objectives against Russian expansion in the Black Sea region.

Supports the international settlement defining Moldova's postwar status under Ottoman suzerainty and European guarantees.

Supports the international settlement defining Wallachia's postwar status under Ottoman suzerainty and European guarantees.

Chinese officials board the British flagship, the Arrow

The Treaty of Paris is signed.

Wins a vote of confidence in the Commons and the Lords after the Treaty of Paris.

Wins parliamentary support after the Treaty of Paris.

Palmerston's Government permits emergency note issuance during the international financial crisis.

The British & Frernch launch a joint military attack against China

Establishes Divorce Courts which replace Ecclesiastical Courts

The Winner of the election with a majority of 85 seats over all other parties combined. "An insolent barbarian wielding authority at Canton had violated the British flag"

The Winner of the election with a majority of 85 seats over all other parties combined. Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain

Declares war on China

Loses a vote of censure by 263 to 247 votes which leads to a dissolution of Parliament

Parliament is dissolved after The Queen agrees to Parlmerstons request

Oubreak of the Indian Mutinty

The Matrimonial Clauses Bill makes it possible for a divorce in a court of law

The Chines Emperor refuses to ratify the Treaty of Tianjin & Beijing is occupied

The Chines Emperor refuses to ratify the Treaty of Tianjin & Beijing is occupied. The Chinese are forced to adhere to the Treaty of Tianjin. Opens further Chinese ports to western trade

Palmerstons Government is defeated over the conspiracy to murder bill

Palmerston & Russell resolve their differences & found of the modern Liberal Party

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 2nd term

The Treaty of Tianjin is accepted by China at the Convention of Bejing

The Treaty of Tianjin is accepted by China at the Convention of Bejing

Proposes enfranchising œ6 occupiers in the Boroughs & œ10 occupiers in the counties. Despite Palmerstons electoral proposals legislation is not passed

Supports the Risorgimento & proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy

Supports the Risorgimento & proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy

Sends troops to Canada on the outbreak of the American Civil War

British troops withdraw but Palmerston gives moral support to Napoleon III

Buried in Westminster Abbey

Death of Henry John Temple

Wins the election with a Liberal majority with 360 supporters against 290 for Derby

Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain