Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784-1865), Prime Minister

Sitter associated with 136 portraits
Politician who served twice as Prime Minister. He was in government office almost continuously from 1807 until his death in 1865, beginning his parliamentary career as a Tory and concluding it as a Liberal. He served successively as: Secretary at War (1809-28); Foreign Secretary (1830-41 and 1846-51); Home Secretary (1853-5) and Prime Minister (1855-8 and 1859-65). He is best remembered for his direction of British foreign policy through a period when the United Kingdom was at the height of its colonial power. His vigorous policy of intervention, often controversial at the time, made him one of the greatest Victorian statesman and among the most powerful figures in European politics.