# 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.
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.

## Cabinet
### February 1855 – February 1858

| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office |
| First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | The Viscount Palmerston(head of ministry) | 6 February 1855 (1855-02-06) | 21 February 1858 (1858-02-21) |
| Lord Chancellor | The Lord Cranworth | 28 December 1852 (1852-12-28) | 21 February 1858 (1858-02-21) |
| Lord President of the CouncilLeader of the House of Lords | The Earl Granville | 8 February 1855 (1855-02-08) | 21 February 1858 (1858-02-21) |
| Lord Privy Seal | The Duke of Argyll | 4 January 1853 (1853-01-04) | 7 December 1855 (1855-12-07) |
| Lord Privy Seal | The Earl of Harrowby | 7 December 1855 (1855-12-07) | 3 February 1858 (1858-02-03) |
| Lord Privy Seal | The Marquess of Clanricarde | 3 February 1858 (1858-02-03) | 21 February 1858 (1858-02-21) |
| Secretary of State for the Home Department | Sir George Grey | 8 February 1855 (1855-02-08) | 26 February 1858 (1858-02-26) |
| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | The Earl of Clarendon | 21 February 1853 (1853-02-21) | 26 February 1858 (1858-02-26) |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | Sidney Herbert | 8 February 1855 (1855-02-08) | 21 February 1855 (1855-02-21) |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | Lord John Russell | 23 February 1855 (1855-02-23) | 21 July 1855 (1855-07-21) |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | Sir William Molesworth | 21 July 1855 (1855-07-21) | 22 October 1855 (1855-10-22) |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | Henry Labouchere | 21 November 1855 (1855-11-21) | 21 October 1858 (1858-10-21) |
| Secretary of State for War | The Lord Panmure | 8 February 1855 (1855-02-08) | 21 February 1858 (1858-02-21) |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | Sir James Graham | 30 December 1852 (1852-12-30) | 13 March 1855 (1855-03-13) |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | Sir Charles Wood | 13 March 1855 (1855-03-13) | 8 March 1858 (1858-03-08) |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | William Ewart Gladstone | 30 December 1852 (1852-12-30) | 5 March 1855 (1855-03-05) |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | George Cornewall Lewis | 5 March 1855 (1855-03-05) | 26 February 1858 (1858-02-26) |
| President of the Board of Control | Sir Charles Wood | 30 December 1852 (1852-12-30) | 3 May 1855 (1855-05-03) |
| President of the Board of Control | Robert Vernon | 3 May 1855 (1855-05-03) | 21 February 1858 (1858-02-21) |
| President of the Board of Trade | The Lord Stanley of Alderley | 27 November 1855 (1855-11-27) | 21 February 1858 (1858-02-21) |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | The Earl of Harrowby | 31 March 1855 (1855-03-31) | 7 December 1855 (1855-12-07) |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Matthew Talbot Baines | 7 December 1855 (1855-12-07) | 21 February 1858 (1858-02-21) |
| First Commissioner of Works | Sir William Molesworth | 5 January 1853 (1853-01-05) | 21 July 1855 (1855-07-21) |
| Postmaster General | The Viscount Canning | 5 January 1853 (1853-01-05) | 1855 (1855) |
| Postmaster General | The Duke of Argyll | 30 November 1855 (1855-11-30) | 21 February 1858 (1858-02-21) |
| Minister without portfolio | The Marquess of Lansdowne | 28 December 1852 (1852-12-28) | 21 February 1858 (1858-02-21) |

#### Changes

* Later in February 1855 – Sir George Cornewall Lewis succeeds Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Lord John Russell succeeds Herbert as Colonial Secretary. Sir Charles Wood succeeds Sir James Graham as First Lord of the Admiralty. R.V. Smith succeeds Wood as President of the Board of Control
* July 1855 – Sir William Molesworth succeeds Russell as Colonial Secretary. Molesworth's successor as First Commissioner of Public Works is not in the Cabinet.
* November 1855 – Henry Labouchere succeeds Molesworth as Colonial Secretary
* December 1855 – The Duke of Argyll succeeds Lord Canning as Postmaster-General. Lord Harrowby succeeds Argyll as Lord Privy Seal. Harrowby's successor as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is not in the Cabinet
* 1857 – M.T. Baines, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, enters the Cabinet.
* February 1858 – Lord Clanricarde succeeds Harrowby as Lord Privy Seal.

## List of ministers

Members of the Cabinet are indicated by bold face.
| Office | Name | Date | Notes |
| Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Commons | The Viscount Palmerston | 6 February 1855 – 21 February 1858 | |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | William Ewart Gladstone | 30 December 1852 | continued in office |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Sir George Cornewall Lewis | 28 February 1855 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | William Goodenough Hayter | 5 January 1853 | continued in office |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | James Wilson | 5 January 1853 | continued in office |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | Lord Alfred Hervey | 1 January 1853 – 7 March 1855 | continued in office |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | Lord Elcho | 1 January 1853 – 7 March 1855 | continued in office |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | Chichester Fortescue | 6 March 1854 – 16 April 1855 | continued in office |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | The Viscount Monck | 7 March 1855 – 21 February 1858 | |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | Viscount Duncan | 7 March 1855 – 21 February 1858 | |
| Junior Lords of the Treasury | Henry Brand | 16 April 1855 – 21 February 1858 | |
| Lord Chancellor | The Lord Cranworth | 28 December 1852 | continued in office |
| Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Lords | The Earl Granville | 8 February 1855 | |
| Lord Privy Seal | The Duke of Argyll | 4 January 1853 | continued in office |
| Lord Privy Seal | The Earl of Harrowby | 7 December 1855 | |
| Lord Privy Seal | The Marquess of Clanricarde | 3 February 1858 | |
| Secretary of State for the Home Department | Sir George Grey | 8 February 1855 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department | Henry Fitzroy | 28 December 1852 | continued in office |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department | William Cowper | 16 February 1855 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department | William Nathaniel Massey | 13 August 1855 | |
| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | The Earl of Clarendon | 21 February 1853 | continued in office |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | The Lord Wodehouse | 28 December 1852 | continued in office |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Earl of Shelburne | 5 July 1856 | |
| Secretary of State for War | The Lord Panmure | 8 February 1855 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for War | Frederick Peel | February 1855 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for War | Sir John Ramsden | May 1857 | |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | Sidney Herbert | 8 February 1855 | |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | Lord John Russell | 23 February 1855 | |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | Sir William Molesworth | 21 July 1855 | |
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | Henry Labouchere | 21 November 1855 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies | John Ball | 8 February 1855 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies | Chichester Fortescue | June 1857 | |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | Sir James Graham | 30 December 1852 | continued in office |
| First Lord of the Admiralty | Sir Charles Wood | 13 March 1855 | |
| First Secretary of the Admiralty | Ralph Bernal Osborne | 6 January 1853 | continued in office |
| Civil Lord of the Admiralty | Sir Robert Peel | 13 March 1855 | |
| Civil Lord of the Admiralty | Thomas Baring | 27 May 1857 | |
| President of the Board of Control | Sir Charles Wood | 30 December 1852 | continued in office |
| President of the Board of Control | Robert Vernon Smith | 3 March 1855 | |
| Joint Secretary to the Board of Control | Henry Danby Seymour | 3 April 1855 | |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | vacant | | |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | The Earl of Harrowby | 31 March 1855 | |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Matthew Talbot Baines | 7 December 1855 | |
| Minister without Portfolio | The Marquess of Lansdowne | 28 December 1852 – 21 February 1858 | |
| Postmaster-General | The Viscount Canning | 5 January 1853 | continued in office |
| Postmaster-General | The Duke of Argyll | 30 November 1855 | |
| President of the Board of Trade | Edward Cardwell | 28 December 1852 | continued in office |
| President of the Board of Trade | The Lord Stanley of Alderley | 31 March 1855 | entered the Cabinet 27 November 1855 |
| Vice-President of the Board of Trade | The Lord Stanley of Alderley | 4 January 1853 | continued in office |
| Vice-President of the Board of Trade | Edward Pleydell-Bouverie | 31 March 1855 | |
| Vice-President of the Board of Trade | Robert Lowe | 13 August 1855 | |
| First Commissioner of Works | Sir William Molesworth | 5 January 1853 | continued in office |
| First Commissioner of Works | Sir Benjamin Hall | 21 July 1855 | |
| Vice-President of the Committee on Education | William Cowper | 5 February 1857 | |
| President of the Board of Health | Sir Benjamin Hall | 14 January 1854 | continued in office |
| President of the Board of Health | William Cowper | 13 August 1855 | |
| President of the Board of Health | William Monsell | 9 February 1857 | |
| President of the Board of Health | William Cowper | 24 September 1857 | |
| Chief Secretary for Ireland | Sir John Young | 6 January 1853 | continued in office |
| Chief Secretary for Ireland | Edward Horsman | 1 March 1855 | |
| Chief Secretary for Ireland | Henry Arthur Herbert | 27 May 1857 | |
| Lord Lieutenant of Ireland | The Earl of Carlisle | 7 March 1855 | |
| Master-General of the Ordnance | The Lord Raglan | 30 September 1852 | Board of Ordnance abolished 25 May 1855 and duties vested in Secretary of State for War; the post of Surveyor-General remained but was not filled. |
| Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance | Sir Hew Dalrymple Ross | 6 May 1854 | Board of Ordnance abolished 25 May 1855 and duties vested in Secretary of State for War; the post of Surveyor-General remained but was not filled. |
| Surveyor-General of the Ordnance | vacant | — | Board of Ordnance abolished 25 May 1855 and duties vested in Secretary of State for War; the post of Surveyor-General remained but was not filled. |
| Storekeeper of the Ordnance | Sir Thomas Hastings | 25 July 1845 | Board of Ordnance abolished 25 May 1855 and duties vested in Secretary of State for War; the post of Surveyor-General remained but was not filled. |
| Clerk of the Ordnance | William Monsell | 13 January 1853 | clerkship abolished 1857 |
| Paymaster General | Lord Stanley of Alderley | 4 January 1853 | continued in office |
| Paymaster General | Edward Pleydell-Bouverie | 31 March 1855 | |
| Paymaster General | Robert Lowe | 13 August 1855 | |
| President of the Poor Law Board | Matthew Talbot Baines | 30 December 1852 | continued in office |
| President of the Poor Law Board | Edward Pleydell-Bouverie | 13 August 1855 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Poor Law Board | Grenville Berkeley | 7 January 1853 | continued in office |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Poor Law Board | Ralph Grey | 9 May 1856 | |
| Attorney General | Sir Alexander Cockburn | 28 December 1852 | continued in office |
| Attorney General | Sir Richard Bethell | 15 November 1856 | |
| Solicitor General | Sir Richard Bethell | 28 December 1852 | continued in office |
| Solicitor General | James Stuart-Wortley | 22 November 1856 | |
| Solicitor General | Sir Henry Singer Keating | 28 May 1857 | |
| Judge Advocate General | Charles Pelham Villiers | 30 December 1852 | continued in office |
| Lord Advocate | James Moncreiff | 30 December 1852 | continued in office |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Edward Maitland | 14 February 1855 | |
| Attorney General for Ireland | Abraham Brewster | April 1853 | continued in office |
| Attorney General for Ireland | William Keogh | March 1855 | |
| Attorney General for Ireland | John Fitzgerald | March 1856 | |
| Solicitor General for Ireland | William Keogh | April 1853 | continued in office |
| Solicitor General for Ireland | John Fitzgerald | March 1855 | |
| Solicitor General for Ireland | Jonathan Christian | March 1856 | |
| Lord Steward of the Household | The Earl Spencer | 10 January 1854 | continued in office |
| Lord Steward of the Household | The Earl of St Germans | 23 November 1857 | |
| Lord Chamberlain of the Household | The Marquess of Breadalbane | 15 January 1853 | continued in office |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Lord Ernest Bruce | 30 December 1852 | continued in office |
| Master of the Horse | The Duke of Wellington | 21 January 1853 | continued in office |
| Treasurer of the Household | Earl of Mulgrave | 4 January 1853 | continued in office |
| Comptroller of the Household | Viscount Drumlanrig | 4 January 1853 | continued in office |
| Comptroller of the Household | Viscount Castlerosse | 25 July 1856 | |
| Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms | The Lord Foley | 30 December 1852 | continued in office |
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | The Viscount Sydney | 30 December 1852 | continued in office |
| Master of the Buckhounds | The Earl of Bessborough | 30 December 1852 | continued in office |
| Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal | Lord Alfred Paget | 30 December 1852 | continued in office |
| Mistress of the Robes | The Duchess of Sutherland | 15 January 1853 | continued in office |
| Lords in Waiting | The Earl Somers | 13 January 1853 – 22 February 1857 | |
| Lords in Waiting | The Lord Camoys | 13 January 1853 – 21 February 1858 | |
| Lords in Waiting | The Lord Rivers | 13 January 1853 – 21 February 1858 | |
| Lords in Waiting | The Lord Waterpark | 13 January 1853 – 21 February 1858 | |
| Lords in Waiting | The Lord de Tabley | 13 January 1853 – 21 February 1858 | |
| Lords in Waiting | The Earl of Listowel | 1 October 1853 – 21 February 1856 | |
| Lords in Waiting | The Lord Dufferin and Clandeboye | 28 November 1854 – 21 February 1858 | |
| Lords in Waiting | The Earl of Caithness | 15 April 1856 – 21 February 1858 | |
| Lords in Waiting | The Lord Cremorne | 22 February 1857 – 21 February 1858 | |