Russell's ministerial career spanned four decades. In addition to his two terms as prime minister, between 1831 and 1865 he served in the cabinets of Earl Grey, Viscount Melbourne, the Earl of Aberdeen, and Viscount Palmerston. His support of liberal policies influenced the Whigs Party's transition into the Liberal Party in 1859. Following the Corn Laws crisis of 1846, the Whigs returned to power and Russell was appointed prime minister and formed the "last pure Whig administration". Domestically he passed and supported significant social reforms such as extending state support for schools, poor law reform and public health reforms. His government's handling of the Irish Famine was widely criticised despite attempts to alleviate the situations and was rocked by the Revolutions of 1848 that took place in Europe. Russell's relationship with his Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston was often stormy and contributed to bringing down Russell's first government in 1852 and Palmerston's first government in 1858. However, their renewed alliance from 1859 was one of the foundations of the united Liberal Party, which would go on to dominate British politics in the following decades.
Russell's ministerial career spanned four decades. In addition to his two terms as prime minister, between 1831 and 1865 he served in the cabinets of Earl Grey Viscount Melbourne, the Earl of Aberdeen, and Viscount Palmerston. His support of liberal policies influenced the Whigs Party's transition into the Liberal Party in 1859. Following the Corn Laws crisis of 1846, the Whigs returned to power and Russell was appointed prime minister and formed the "last pure Whig administration". Domestically he passed and supported significant social reforms such as extending state support for schools, poor law reform and public health reforms. His government's handling of the Irish Famine was widely criticised despite attempts to alleviate the situations and was rocked by the Revolutions of 1848 that took place in Europe. Russell's relationship with his Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston was often stormy and contributed to bringing down Russell's first government in 1852 and Palmerston's first government in 1858. However, their renewed alliance from 1859 was one of the foundations of the united Liberal Party, which would go on to do,minate British politics in the following decades.