Aberdeen, George Hamilton Gordon, 4th Earl of

b. 1784; d. 1860

British statesman, born in Edinburgh and educated at Harrow and St John's College, Cambridge. He succeeded to the earldom in 1801. Aberdeen was ambassador at Vienna in 1813, and signed the Treaty of Teplitz. He then entered political life as a Tory, and became successively chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and foreign secretary in Wellington's Cabinet (1828-30); but although he held office (colonies and war) under Peel (1834-35) and was again foreign secretary (1841-46) he resigned with Peel in 1846. In 1852 he succeeded Lord Derby as prime minister, forming a popular coalition ministry. His ministry soon declined in popularity owing to the mismanagement of the Crimean War, and he resigned after a motion of censure against his government had been carried in the House of Commons.

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