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Summary
- Early Life and Political Career of George Hamilton-Gordon
- Lord Aberdeen as Prime Minister, 1852-1855
- Legacy of Lord Aberdeen
Key Facts And Information
Let’s find out more about George Hamilton-Gordon, Lord Aberdeen!
George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen, was a British diplomat and politician who served as Prime Minister from 1852 to 1855. Before becoming prime minister, he served as a diplomat during the War of the Sixth Coalition against Napoleon Bonaparte. He became foreign secretary to prime ministers Wellington and Peel. Amidst being a poor speaker, he led a coalition between the Whigs and the Peelites. Under his ministry, Britain entered the Crimean War, which later made him unpopular.
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Early Life and Political Career of George Hamilton-Gordon
- George Hamilton-Gordon was the eldest son of George Gordon, Lord Haddo, son of George Gordon, 3rd Earl of Aberdeen. Born on 28 January 1784, he was raised by a wealthy family in Edinburgh, who also had the largest estates in Scotland.
- After losing his parents at a young age, George was raised by Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville and William Pitt the Younger. He inherited all of his father’s estates and the title of Earl of Aberdeen after his grandfather’s death in 1801.
- After travelling to Europe extensively, Aberdeen returned to Britain and founded the Society of Athenian Travellers. By 1805, he married Lady Catherine Elizabeth, daughter of John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn.
- As the new Lord Aberdeen, he took his seat in the House of Lords in December 1805 as a Tory Scottish representative peer. Three years later, he was created a Knight of the Thistle, an order of chivalry associated with Scotland.
- In 1812, he joined the Foreign Service and was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Austria. The following year, he was one of the signatories of the Treaty of Töplitz between Britain and Austria. During the Napoleonic Wars, he was among the central diplomatic figures in Europe.
- In 1814, he became a member of the Privy Council.
- Under the Duke of Wellington, Lord Aberdeen served as Foreign Secretary and resigned following the passage of the Reform Bill of 1832.
- During the first Peel ministry, he served as Secretary of State for War and the Colonies (1834-1935), and again Foreign Secretary during Peel’s second ministry.
- Even after the passing of Robert Peel, Lord Aberdeen continued to be his follower. As a known leader of the Peelites, he had little influence over the Whig government of Lord John Russell. When William Gladstone became Chancellor, he was asked to form a new government.
Lord Aberdeen as Prime Minister, 1852-1855
- The new coalition government formed by Lord Aberdeen was composed of Free Traders, Peelites, and the Whigs who voted no confidence in the minority government composed of Tories/Conservatives.
- Among the most notable politicians who served under his ministry were William Gladstone (Chancellor of the Exchequer), Lord John Russell (Foreign Secretary), Lord Palmerston (Home Secretary), and the Earl of Clarendon (later Foreign Secretary).
- One of the notable reforms during Lord Aberdeen’s premiership was the Charter Act of 1853, which introduced changes to the Indian Civil Service. It also marked a significant step toward modernising the British administrative system. The act introduced the Indian Civil Service, which diminished the power of patronage and enforced fairer recruitment.
- Furthermore, the Charter Act also introduced local representation in the Legislative Council composed of members from Madras, Bombay, Bengal, and Agra. Generally, the act shifted the commercial management of India into a structured colonial administration, which diminished the power of the East India Company.
Depiction of the Russo-British encounter during the Crimean War
- Lord Aberdeen’s premiership was dominated by his foreign policy. Among the central issues was the “Easter Question” concerning the decline of the Ottoman Empire, Russian expansion in Europe, the influence of Napoleon III, and generally, the balance of power in Europe, which later led to Britain joining the Crimean War.
- Characterised as the “sick man of Europe”, the gradual decline of the Ottoman Empire from the late 18th to early 20th centuries left the balance of power in Europe in question. As the collapse of a once-huge empire became imminent, other European powers, such as Russia, France, Britain, and Austria-Hungary, fought over their interests in the region. It was only put to rest following the First World War as Ottoman holdings were divided.
- As the Ottoman Empire began to lose its control over its territories, Russia wanted to expand and gain access to the Mediterranean Sea.
- Furthermore, the question of control over the holy places in Jerusalem and Palestine had been a dispute between France and Russia. France supported the Roman Catholic Church, while Russia backed the Orthodox Church.
- In July 1853, Russian troops occupied the Ottoman-controlled Danubian Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia (in present-day Romania. By October, the Ottoman Empire declared war on Russia, starting the Russo-Turkish War.
- Fearing that such expansion would challenge the balance of power in Europe and trade, Britain attempted to resolve the imminent conflict through diplomacy.
- Among the precautionary steps taken by Lord Aberdeen was positioning the British fleet at the Dardanelles to deter Russia. Moreover, British diplomats were also sent to negotiate a compromise between Russia and the Ottoman Empire.
- Despite the efforts, the situation worsened in late 1853 as a Turkish fleet was destroyed at Sinope in the Black Sea. As tensions increased, diplomacy failed.
- On 28 March 1854, Britain and France officially declared war on Russia and made an alliance with the Ottoman Empire. About 26,000 troops, known as the Army of the East, were sent by Britain to the Black Sea.
- At first, Lord Aberdeen believed that Russia could be persuaded through negotiation. While Lord Palmerston insisted that Russia’s actions must be resisted. With a divided government, Aberdeen was forced to support the war.
- Although Britain eventually succeeded in the Crimean War, the Aberdeen government received criticisms in the early years of the conflict, including the army’s poor organisation, shortages of supplies, and the high number of soldiers dying from disease.
- Reports of the wars from journalists and letters from soldiers reached the public, which caused outrage against the government.
- In January 1855, the House of Commons investigated the conduct of war, which effectively showed a loss of confidence in Aberdeen’s government.
Legacy of Lord Aberdeen
- Lord Aberdeen was regarded as a generally successful diplomat, but his reputation as a politician suffered due to the military disaster in the Crimean War. Other politicians, such as Benjamin Disraeli, regarded him as weak and inefficient.
- Before the war, Aberdeen’s diplomatic ventures with the Austrian Empire, and figures such as Klemens von Metternich and François Guizot were successful. He also brought Britain into the centre of Continental diplomacy. Compromises with the United States were also forged.
- On 30 January 1855, after the loss of confidence votes, Aberdeen resigned and was succeeded by Lord Palmerston.
Frequently Asked Questions About George Hamilton-Gordon, Lord Aberdeen
- Who was Lord Aberdeen?Lord Aberdeen, whose full name was George Hamilton-Gordon, was a British statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1852 to 1855.
- What political party did Lord Aberdeen belong to?He was associated with the Peelite faction, a group that split from the Conservative Party and later contributed to the formation of the Liberal Party.
- Why did Lord Aberdeen resign as Prime Minister?He resigned in 1855 due to criticism of his government’s handling of the Crimean War, especially military failures.