Disagreements between Russell and Palmerston

Lord Palmerston, who was by far the most contentious member of Russell's cabinet during the latter's first term as Prime Minister, was another prominent Whig party politician of the period (1846-1852). Russell disagreed with Palmerston's sponsorship of the continental revolutions while he was Foreign Secretary. By undermining the Spanish court's intentions to wed the young Spanish Queen and her sister into the French royal line in 1847, Palmerston instigated a conflict with the French government. After the collapse of the French monarch in 1848, the fear of a French invasion, which had been perceived, lessened, and he argued with Russell over plans to expand the army and fleet.

The Don Pacifico case, in which Palmerston sought compensation from the Greek government for the ransacking and burning of David Pacifico's home, a Gibraltarian with a British passport, in 1850, led to additional hostility between the two. When Palmerston disobeyed some of Russell's instructions, the Prime Minister wrote to Palmerston informing him that he had informed the Queen that he "thought the interests of the country required that a change should take place at the Foreign Department." Russell thought the situation was "hardly worth the interposition of the British lion."

After Palmerston recognized Napoleon III's coup on December 2, 1851, without first consulting the Queen or Cabinet, Russell compelled Palmerston to quit as Foreign Secretary. Russell made an effort to fortify his ministry by enlisting prominent Peelites like Sir James Graham and the Duke of Newcastle, but they turned him down. In retaliation, Palmerston led the opposition in supporting the government's Militia Bill. Russell resigned as a result in 1852. The infamous "tit for tat with Johnny Russell" took place around this time.