Past Prime Ministers
Born 28 January 1784, Edinburgh
Died 14 December 1860, St James', London
Dates in office 19 December 1852 - 30 January 1855
Political party Conservative
Major acts
Charter Act 1853 - opened up the covenanted Indian Civil Service
Interesting facts
He was the cousin of poet Lord Byron and as a young man closely resembled him with his mop of dark curly hair.
George Hamilton Gordon Earl of Aberdeen
1852 - 1855
“I do not know how I shall bear being out of office. I have many resources and many objects of interest; but after being occupied with great affairs, it is not easy to subside to the level of common occupations.”
George Hamilton Gordon, later the Earl of Aberdeen, had a short-lived term in the highest office. While he managed to pass a number of reforms, he was brought down by his handling of the Crimean War and his failure to manage the strong personalities of his colleagues.
Gordon had an eventful early life. Orphaned as a child, he toured Europe as a young man, visiting many classical sites. Returning to his Scottish estates in 1805, he was shocked at their condition and the lives of his countrymen, in contrast to the life he had known in the south of England.
He came to parliamentary politics relatively late. At the age of 22, he entered the House of Lords and a few years later started a career in diplomacy which earned him his peerage.
His first government post was two periods as Foreign Secretary, 1828-30, under Wellington, and 1841-46, under Peel. He proved his convictions as a peacemaker, calming Britain’s external relations.
In 1852, when Derby’s government was defeated, Aberdeen became prime minister of a coalition government of Peelites, Whigs, radicals and Irish members.
Packed with talent
His Cabinet was packed with talent – Russell as Foreign Secretary, Palmerston as Home Secretary and Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer – but controlling such big personalities proved difficult for Aberdeen to handle.
Early in his time in office, Gordon managed to pass legislation concerning taxation, the Civil Service and legal matters, which showed his ability to reform.
But Gordon’s government was dominated by foreign affairs, as Britain drifted towards war with Russia.
Responsibility for failing to conduct the Crimean War efficiently was pinned on Aberdeen personally. Attempts to hold an inquiry into the conduct of the war led to Aberdeen’s resignation in 1855.