Aberdeen, Earl of (1784-1860), served as prime minister of the United Kingdom from December 1852 to January 1855. In 1854, Aberdeen’s administration entered Britain into the Crimean War (1853-1856) against Russia. The Crimean War was the first to be covered by newspaper reporters and photographers at the front. Early British setbacks and mismanagement shocked the British public. Facing an inquiry into the conduct of the war, Aberdeen resigned.
The Earl of Aberdeen was born George Hamilton Gordon on Jan. 28, 1784, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the first of seven children born to George Gordon, Lord Haddo, and Charlotte Baird. Young George was educated at Harrow and St. John’s College, Cambridge. He succeeded to the title of Earl of Aberdeen after his grandfather died in 1801. Aberdeen entered the House of Lords in 1806. He served as foreign secretary under two prime ministers, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel.
Aberdeen married Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton in 1805. The couple had four children before Catherine died in 1812. Aberdeen later married Harriet Douglas, and the couple had five more children. He died in London on Dec. 14, 1860. His cousin George Gordon was the famous Romantic poet Lord Byron.
See also Crimean War ; Byron, Lord .
