Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston

The Right Honourable Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (October 20, 1784 - October 18, 1865) was a British statesman who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century. He was in government office almost continually from 1807 till his death in 1865, beginning his parliamentary career as a Tory, and concluding it as a Liberal. He is remembered primarily for having directed British foreign policy as either Foreign Secretary or Prime Minister through most of a thirty five year period when the United Kingdom was at the height of its power. His achievements in that field were many, but some of his aggressive measures drew considerable criticism both in this own time and subsequently.

Lord Palmerston's First Government, February 1855 - February 1858

• Lord Palmerston - First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Commons
• Lord Cranworth - Lord Chancellor
• Lord Granville - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Lords
• The Duke of Argyll - Lord Privy Seal
• Sir George Grey - Secretary of State for the Home Department
• Lord Clarendon - Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
• Sidney Herbert - Secretary of State for the Colonies
• Lord Panmure - Secretary of State for War
• Sir James Graham - First Lord of the Admiralty
• William Ewart Gladstone - Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Sir Charles Wood - President of the Board of Control
• Lord Stanley of Alderley - President of the Board of Trade
• Lord Harrowby - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
• Sir William Molesworth - First Commissioner of Works
• Lord Canning - Postmaster-General
• Lord Lansdowne - Minister without Portfolio

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.