Palmerston, Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount

Palmerston (of Palmerston), Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount

 known as Lord Palmerston

(born Oct. 20, 1784, Broadlands, Hampshire, Eng.—died Oct. 18, 1865, Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire) English politician and prime minister (1855–58, 1859–65). He entered Parliament in 1807 as a Tory and served as secretary at war (1809–28). Associated with the Whig Party from 1830, he served many years as foreign secretary (1830–34, 1835–41, 1846–51) and supported British interests and liberal causes abroad. He played a key role in establishing the independence of Belgium (1830–31) and Greece (1832) and secured Turkey's integrity against France (1840). Appointed prime minister in 1855, he brought an end to the Crimean War, approved the creation of the independent Kingdom of Italy, and supported a policy of neutrality in the American Civil War. Nicknamed “Pam,” he was a symbol of British nationalism and one of Britain's most popular leaders.