Who is this person?

[AussieMick]

Yes, Roger ... its a politician. Sorry, I've only just got up (5 am) on Sunday. (Still jet-lagged from overseas trip.) You had a wild guess at John O'Hara Burke the Irish man who with William John Wills died during a tragic attempt to cross the Australian continent in 1861. I see now that there was an Irish connection to the correct answer.

And (drum roll) yes, Steve. Its none other than that pompous old Palmerston. Viscount Palmerston actually but,yes, addressed in speech as 'Lord Palmerston' born Henry John Temple.

He almost declared war on the USA over the Trent Affair.

(from wiikipeadia): "Palmerston dominated British foreign policy during the period 1830 to 1865, when Britain was at the height of her imperial power. He held office almost continuously from 1807 until his death in 1865. He began his parliamentary career as a Tory, defected to the Whigs in 1830, and became the first Prime Minister of the newly formed Liberal Party in 1859.

Prime Minister from 1859 - 1865

Palmerston succeeded to his father's Irish peerage in 1802. ... "