George Hamilton-Gordon Aberdeen

Born Jan. 28, 1784; died Dec. 14, 1860. British politician and one of the leaders of the Tory Party.

In 1850, Aberdeen became the leader of the Peelites (the-followers of R. Peel). During 1828–30 and 1841–46 he was foreign secretary. During the period December 1852 to January 1855 he was prime minister of a coalition government “of all talents,” which included representatives of the Tories, Peelites, Whigs, and Irish Liberals. This government saw as its duty the unification of various factions of the British oligarchy in order to “block the bourgeoisie for as long as possible from direct access to ruling the country” (K. Marx; see K. Marx and F. Engels, Works, 2nd ed., vol. 8, p. 508). In February 1853, Aberdeen’s government concluded an agreement with France concerning joint actions against Russia in the matter of the Eastern Question. After the defeat of the Turkish fleet at Sinop, Aberdeen’s government declared war on Russia on Mar. 27, 1854. Aberdeen was forced to retire as a result of British Army failures during the initial period of this war.