George Canning appointed British Foreign Secretary (1822–1827)

George Canning, a British statesman and Tory politician, succeeded Lord Castlereagh as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1822. Castlereagh, who had managed British foreign policy since 1812, died by suicide in August 1822 after suffering from paranoia and distress. Canning, who had previously served as Foreign Secretary, resumed the role under Prime Minister Lord Liverpool, serving until his own death in 1827.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Lord Castlereagh served as Foreign Secretary from 1812, managing the coalition against Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna. By 1822, he was widely reviled, overworked, and personally distressed, showing signs of paranoia. He died by suicide on 12 August 1822. Canning, who had previously served as Foreign Secretary and resigned in 1820 over the Queen Caroline affair, was positioned to succeed him.

Transition. Canning had served under Prime Minister Lord Liverpool as Ambassador to Portugal and President of the Board of Control before becoming Foreign Secretary. He had previously served as Foreign Secretary in the cabinets of Lord Liverpool and the Duke of Portland. Following Castlereagh's death, Canning replaced him as Foreign Secretary, serving from 1822 to 1827.

Context. Castlereagh's death and Canning's succession occurred as the Concert of Europe system had collapsed by 1822, owing to irreconcilable differences of opinion between Britain, Austria, and Russia and to the lack of support for the Congress system in British public opinion. This diplomatic breakdown formed the immediate international context into which Canning assumed the Foreign Office.

People involved

Sources

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