First Palmerston ministry
Lord Palmerston, of the Whigs, first formed a government by popular demand in 1855, after the resignation of the Aberdeen Coalition.Initially, the government was a continuation of the previous coalition administration but lost three Peelites (William Ewart Gladstone, Sir James Graham and Sidney Herbert) within a few weeks.However, other Peelites like The Duke of Argyll and The Viscount Canning remained in office.Palmerston was heavily criticised by Parliament in 1857 over the conduct of the Second Opium War and called a dissolution, but the nation voiced its support in the resulting general election and he returned with a Whig majority.[1] In 1858, the Government resigned when defeated (on a measure for removing conspiracies to murder abroad from the class of misdemeanour to that of felony, which was introduced in consequence of Felice Orsini's attempt on the life of Napoleon III the emperor of the French) and was succeeded by another short-lived Conservative government under Disraeli and Lord Derby.
1855–1858VictoriaViscount PalmerstonWhig PartyMinorityMajorityConservative PartyBenjamin DisraeliHouse of CommonsEarl of DerbyHouse of Lords1857 general election16th UK Parliamentvote of confidence17th UK ParliamentAberdeen ministrySecond Derby–Disraeli ministryLord PalmerstonAberdeen CoalitionPeelitesWilliam Ewart GladstoneSir James GrahamSidney HerbertThe Duke of ArgyllThe Viscount CanningSecond Opium Wardissolutionresulting general electionFelice Orsini'sNapoleon IIIshort-lived Conservative governmentDisraeliLord DerbyPortrait of Lord PalmerstonJohn PartridgeFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of CommonsThe Viscount PalmerstonLord ChancellorThe Lord CranworthLord President of the CouncilLeader of the House of LordsThe Earl GranvilleLord Privy SealThe Earl of HarrowbyThe Marquess of ClanricardeSecretary of State for the Home DepartmentSir George GreySecretary of State for Foreign AffairsThe Earl of ClarendonSecretary of State for the ColoniesLord John RussellSir William MolesworthHenry LabouchereSecretary of State for WarThe Lord PanmureFirst Lord of the AdmiraltySir Charles WoodChancellor of the ExchequerGeorge Cornewall LewisPresident of the Board of ControlRobert VernonPresident of the Board of TradeThe Lord Stanley of AlderleyChancellor of the Duchy of LancasterMatthew Talbot BainesFirst Commissioner of WorksPostmaster GeneralMinister without portfolioThe Marquess of LansdowneSir George Cornewall LewisR.V. SmithM.T. BainesLord ClanricardeCabinetPrime MinisterParliamentary Secretary to the TreasuryWilliam Goodenough HayterFinancial Secretary to the TreasuryJames WilsonJunior Lords of the TreasuryLord Alfred HerveyLord ElchoChichester FortescueThe Viscount MonckViscount DuncanHenry BrandUnder-Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentHenry FitzroyWilliam CowperWilliam Nathaniel MasseyParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsThe Lord WodehouseEarl of ShelburneUnder-Secretary of State for WarFrederick PeelSir John RamsdenUnder-Secretary of State for the ColoniesJohn BallFirst Secretary of the AdmiraltyRalph Bernal OsborneCivil Lord of the AdmiraltySir Robert PeelThomas BaringRobert Vernon SmithJoint Secretary to the Board of ControlHenry Danby SeymourPostmaster-GeneralEdward CardwellVice-President of the Board of TradeEdward Pleydell-BouverieRobert LoweSir Benjamin HallVice-President of the Committee on EducationPresident of the Board of HealthWilliam MonsellChief Secretary for IrelandSir John YoungEdward HorsmanHenry Arthur HerbertLord Lieutenant of IrelandThe Earl of CarlisleMaster-General of the OrdnanceThe Lord RaglanLieutenant-General of the OrdnanceSir Hew Dalrymple Ross