Palmerston podcasts

Lord Palmerston: Britain's Most Scandalous Statesman - Part Two (Season 6 Episode 5)

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2025 63:48

Welcome to Part Two! If you thought decades-long affairs were wild, wait until you hear what Palmerston did with actual power. In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, we explore his most spectacular diplomatic overreactions: sending 14 warships to collect £150, fighting two wars over opium trafficking, allegedly assaulting Queen Victoria's lady-in-waiting in her own palace, becoming Prime Minister at 70, and literally dying in office at 80.This is the story of gunboat diplomacy, imperial arrogance, and refusing to retire.What You'll Discover:The Don Pacifico Affair (Most Spectacular Overreaction Ever): Portuguese Jewish merchant in Athens had his house ransacked in 1847. Claimed £26,000 damages (£30 million in relative purchasing power). Palmerston sent 14 warships, 731 guns, 8,000 sailors to blockade Greece for two months. Actual damages awarded: £150 (£13,500 today). His famous five-hour speech: "Civis Romanus sum" (I am a British citizen). Commons voted 310-264 in his favour, became "most popular man in the country."The Opium Wars (Britain's Least Defensible Policy): British merchants illegally smuggling opium into China for decades. China banned it (catastrophic health crisis). Britain's solution: get Chinese addicted, use drug money to buy tea. 1839: China destroyed 20,000 chests of British opium. Palmerston insisted war was about "free trade." Gladstone called it "a war more unjust in its origins, more calculated to cover this country with permanent disgrace." Vote: 271-262 for war (nine votes!). First Opium War (1839-1842): Britain destroyed Chinese forces, Treaty of Nanking forced China to pay indemnity, open treaty ports, cede Hong Kong. Second Opium War (1856-1860) fully legalised opium trade. China's "century of humiliation" began. All because Victorians really liked tea.The Windsor Castle Scandal: Late 1830s/early 1840s: Palmerston, staying at Windsor Castle, entered Lady Dacre's bedroom late at night (drunk and "enterprising"). She screamed, threw him out. Entire castle learned immediately. Claimed he mistakenly entered wrong room, but locked door behind him. Victoria furious, wanted him sacked. Only Lord Melbourne's intervention saved his career. Victoria wrote years later about "old offences which sunk deep into her mind." She explicitly said in 1853: "Nothing will induce Her Majesty to have Palmerston as Prime Minister." Had to accept him twice anyway. 1863: 78-year-old Palmerston accused of adultery with Mrs O'Kane. Public reaction: "Good for him!"Becoming Prime Minister (Finally): Crimean War going badly, Aberdeen's government fell. 1855: Palmerston became PM at 70 (oldest person ever to take job for first time). Brought Crimean War to reasonable conclusion. 1857: Called election campaigning on being "tough on China," won considerable majority ("Vote for me, I'll send more gunboats!"). 1858: Government fell over restricting refugees. 1859: Returned as PM at 75 with Russell and Gladstone. Final ministry until death in 1865.The Final Years: Navigated American Civil War carefully. Presented Italian Unification as British victory (Britain barely involved). Schleswig-Holstein Question: "Only three people understood it: Prince Consort (dead), German professor (mad), and I (forgotten)." Blocked electoral reform for working class. 1865 election slogan: "Leave it to Pam," won convincing majority at 80. Died 18 October 1865, two days before 81st birthday. Alleged last words: "Die, my dear doctor? That's the last thing I shall do."⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Lord Palmerston: Britain's Most Scandalous Statesman - Part Two (Season 6 Episode 5)

History's Greatest Idiots

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2025 63:48

Welcome to Part Two! If you thought decades-long affairs were wild, wait until you hear what Palmerston did with actual power. In this episode of History's Greatest Idiots, we explore his most spectacular diplomatic overreactions: sending 14 warships to collect £150, fighting two wars over opium trafficking, allegedly assaulting Queen Victoria's lady-in-waiting in her own palace, becoming Prime Minister at 70, and literally dying in office at 80.This is the story of gunboat diplomacy, imperial arrogance, and refusing to retire.What You'll Discover:The Don Pacifico Affair (Most Spectacular Overreaction Ever): Portuguese Jewish merchant in Athens had his house ransacked in 1847. Claimed £26,000 damages (£30 million in relative purchasing power). Palmerston sent 14 warships, 731 guns, 8,000 sailors to blockade Greece for two months. Actual damages awarded: £150 (£13,500 today). His famous five-hour speech: "Civis Romanus sum" (I am a British citizen). Commons voted 310-264 in his favour, became "most popular man in the country."The Opium Wars (Britain's Least Defensible Policy): British merchants illegally smuggling opium into China for decades. China banned it (catastrophic health crisis). Britain's solution: get Chinese addicted, use drug money to buy tea. 1839: China destroyed 20,000 chests of British opium. Palmerston insisted war was about "free trade." Gladstone called it "a war more unjust in its origins, more calculated to cover this country with permanent disgrace." Vote: 271-262 for war (nine votes!). First Opium War (1839-1842): Britain destroyed Chinese forces, Treaty of Nanking forced China to pay indemnity, open treaty ports, cede Hong Kong. Second Opium War (1856-1860) fully legalised opium trade. China's "century of humiliation" began. All because Victorians really liked tea.The Windsor Castle Scandal: Late 1830s/early 1840s: Palmerston, staying at Windsor Castle, entered Lady Dacre's bedroom late at night (drunk and "enterprising"). She screamed, threw him out. Entire castle learned immediately. Claimed he mistakenly entered wrong room, but locked door behind him. Victoria furious, wanted him sacked. Only Lord Melbourne's intervention saved his career. Victoria wrote years later about "old offences which sunk deep into her mind." She explicitly said in 1853: "Nothing will induce Her Majesty to have Palmerston as Prime Minister." Had to accept him twice anyway. 1863: 78-year-old Palmerston accused of adultery with Mrs O'Kane. Public reaction: "Good for him!"Becoming Prime Minister (Finally): Crimean War going badly, Aberdeen's government fell. 1855: Palmerston became PM at 70 (oldest person ever to take job for first time). Brought Crimean War to reasonable conclusion. 1857: Called election campaigning on being "tough on China," won considerable majority ("Vote for me, I'll send more gunboats!"). 1858: Government fell over restricting refugees. 1859: Returned as PM at 75 with Russell and Gladstone. Final ministry until death in 1865.The Final Years: Navigated American Civil War carefully. Presented Italian Unification as British victory (Britain barely involved). Schleswig-Holstein Question: "Only three people understood it: Prince Consort (dead), German professor (mad), and I (forgotten)." Blocked electoral reform for working class. 1865 election slogan: "Leave it to Pam," won convincing majority at 80. Died 18 October 1865, two days before 81st birthday. Alleged last words: "Die, my dear doctor? That's the last thing I shall do."⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Lord Palmerston: Britain's Most Scandalous Statesman - Part One (Season 6 Episode 4)

History's Greatest Idiots

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2025 46:59

How did an 18-year-old aristocrat become one of Britain's longest-serving politicians, spending 20 years in the same boring job before discovering his true calling at age 46? In the latest episode of History's Greatest Idiots, featuring Emily Jackson, one third of the Trauma Agora Podcast, we explore Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, the man known as "Lord Cupid" who survived an assassination attempt, conducted a decades-long affair with his friend's wife, and accidentally built one of the most remarkable political careers in British history.The Origin Story: Born in 1784 literally in Parliament's shadow, inheriting an Irish peerage at 18 that was considered "lesser" by British gentry. Educated at Harrow (one of seven PMs from there) and Edinburgh University. Described as having "the most faultless character" (the last time anyone would say that).The Reluctant Politician: Lost his first two campaigns, then paid £1,500 (£1 million in today's purchasing power) to become MP for Horsham at 22. Later represented Newtown with one condition: never visit the constituency. Democracy was more suggestion than requirement.The 20-Year Training Montage: Appointed to admiralty at 22, turned down Chancellor of the Exchequer at 25 (too young!), accepted Secretary at War instead. Spent a mind-numbing 20 years doing army finances under five Prime Ministers. Called "a brilliant young man wasting his talents, destined to remain a second-rater."The Assassination Attempt: Shot by Lieutenant Davies (ex-officer with PTSD) in 1818, survived with minor injury, then paid for Davies's legal defense and psychiatric care. But refused to intervene when poacher Charles Smith was executed on his estates in 1822.Lord Cupid: Earned his nickname through notorious affairs with Lady Jersey, Princess Dorothea Lieven, and dozens of others. The big one: 30-year affair with Emily Lamb, Countess Cowper, whose boring husband "sank into ill health." At least two of her five children were likely Palmerston's.Finally Getting Married: Lord Cowper died in 1837. Emily's children objected (he's too old and a womanizer!). Queen Victoria (age 18) thought people in their 50s were too old to marry. They married anyway in 1839 after 30 years of waiting. Extraordinarily happy marriage, described as "perpetual courtship."The Career Finally Begins: Resigned in 1828 after 20 years with Tories, gave brilliant foreign policy speech in 1829, switched to Whig party, appointed Foreign Secretary in 1830 at age 46. The training montage was over.Coming Up In Part Two: Sending 14 warships to collect £150, fighting two wars over opium, allegedly trying to 'seduce' Queen Victoria's lady-in-waiting in her own palace, becoming PM at 70, and dying in office at 80.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Lord Palmerston: Britain's Most Scandalous Statesman - Part One (Season 6 Episode 4)

History's Greatest Idiots

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2025 46:59

How did an 18-year-old aristocrat become one of Britain's longest-serving politicians, spending 20 years in the same boring job before discovering his true calling at age 46? In the latest episode of History's Greatest Idiots, featuring Emily Jackson, one third of the Trauma Agora Podcast, we explore Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, the man known as "Lord Cupid" who survived an assassination attempt, conducted a decades-long affair with his friend's wife, and accidentally built one of the most remarkable political careers in British history.The Origin Story: Born in 1784 literally in Parliament's shadow, inheriting an Irish peerage at 18 that was considered "lesser" by British gentry. Educated at Harrow (one of seven PMs from there) and Edinburgh University. Described as having "the most faultless character" (the last time anyone would say that).The Reluctant Politician: Lost his first two campaigns, then paid £1,500 (£1 million in today's purchasing power) to become MP for Horsham at 22. Later represented Newtown with one condition: never visit the constituency. Democracy was more suggestion than requirement.The 20-Year Training Montage: Appointed to admiralty at 22, turned down Chancellor of the Exchequer at 25 (too young!), accepted Secretary at War instead. Spent a mind-numbing 20 years doing army finances under five Prime Ministers. Called "a brilliant young man wasting his talents, destined to remain a second-rater."The Assassination Attempt: Shot by Lieutenant Davies (ex-officer with PTSD) in 1818, survived with minor injury, then paid for Davies's legal defense and psychiatric care. But refused to intervene when poacher Charles Smith was executed on his estates in 1822.Lord Cupid: Earned his nickname through notorious affairs with Lady Jersey, Princess Dorothea Lieven, and dozens of others. The big one: 30-year affair with Emily Lamb, Countess Cowper, whose boring husband "sank into ill health." At least two of her five children were likely Palmerston's.Finally Getting Married: Lord Cowper died in 1837. Emily's children objected (he's too old and a womanizer!). Queen Victoria (age 18) thought people in their 50s were too old to marry. They married anyway in 1839 after 30 years of waiting. Extraordinarily happy marriage, described as "perpetual courtship."The Career Finally Begins: Resigned in 1828 after 20 years with Tories, gave brilliant foreign policy speech in 1829, switched to Whig party, appointed Foreign Secretary in 1830 at age 46. The training montage was over.Coming Up In Part Two: Sending 14 warships to collect £150, fighting two wars over opium, allegedly trying to 'seduce' Queen Victoria's lady-in-waiting in her own palace, becoming PM at 70, and dying in office at 80.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artist: Sarah Chey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell on TC fina response

360 with Katie Woolf

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025 9:59 Transcription Available

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Lord Palmerston: Britain's Most Scandalous Statesman - Part Two (Season 6 Episode 5)

Lord Palmerston: Britain's Most Scandalous Statesman - Part Two (Season 6 Episode 5)

Lord Palmerston: Britain's Most Scandalous Statesman - Part One (Season 6 Episode 4)

Lord Palmerston: Britain's Most Scandalous Statesman - Part One (Season 6 Episode 4)

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