Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
In 1859 Lord Palmerston
instigated the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom because of serious concerns that France
might attempt to invade the UK
. The recent period had seen great improvements in gunnery (with RML and RBL
designs); the widespread introduction of steam propulsion in ships (the French La Gloire and British response HMS Warrior
are examples); and the growth of the French battle fleet (between 1854-1858 it had achieved numerical equality to the British). These factors convinced him that Britain's coastal defences were inadequate to prevent invasion by Napoleon III if the Royal Navy
was lured elsewhere.
The Commission consisted of six eminent naval and military officers, plus a civilian representative of the Treasury
, James Fergusson, who in 1856-57 had published papers warning of the vulnerability of Portsmouth. Its brief was to enquire into the state and sufficiency of fortifications existing and planned for defending the UK, with a specific focus on naval dockyards.
They concluded in their report in February 1860 that the fleet, standing army and volunteer forces, even combined, did not provide sufficient defence. An intensive program of fortification
was begun; the designs being overseen by Major William Jervois
of the Royal Engineers
, who was secretary to the Commission. The Commission recommended that only vital points be fortified, and these were considered to be the Royal Dockyards at Portsmouth
, Chatham
, Plymouth
, Portland Harbour
, Milford Haven
and elsewhere. These forts became known as the Palmerston Forts
. Portsmouth harbour, in particular, was given a new encircling line of forts to protect it from landward and seaward attack.
Queen Victoria supported the scheme. Its chief opponent was William Ewart Gladstone
, then Chancellor of the Exchequer
, who resigned in protest when it was accepted.
By the time the fortifications were completed in the 1880s it was clear that the French had not seriously planned to invade. The Franco-Prussian War
of 1870–71 removed the threat and the forts became known as Palmerston's Follies. As a key purpose of fortification
is deterrent, this judgement was harsh, but with the rapid development of warship
design during the period, the time taken to plan and implement the works would always have caused problems with ensuring that the defences were capable of defeating a French attack force.
Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, KG, GCB, PC , known popularly as Lord Palmerston, was a British statesman who served twice as Prime Minister in the mid-19th century...
instigated the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom because of serious concerns that France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
might attempt to invade the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The recent period had seen great improvements in gunnery (with RML and RBL
Rifled breech loader
A rifled breech loader is an artillery piece which, unlike the smooth-bore cannon and rifled muzzle loader which preceded it, has rifling in the barrel and is loaded from the breech at the rear of the gun....
designs); the widespread introduction of steam propulsion in ships (the French La Gloire and British response HMS Warrior
HMS Warrior (1860)
HMS Warrior was the first iron-hulled, armour-plated warship, built for the Royal Navy in response to the first ironclad warship, the French Gloire, launched a year earlier....
are examples); and the growth of the French battle fleet (between 1854-1858 it had achieved numerical equality to the British). These factors convinced him that Britain's coastal defences were inadequate to prevent invasion by Napoleon III if the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
was lured elsewhere.
The Commission consisted of six eminent naval and military officers, plus a civilian representative of the Treasury
Treasury
A treasury is either*A government department related to finance and taxation.*A place where currency or precious items is/are kept....
, James Fergusson, who in 1856-57 had published papers warning of the vulnerability of Portsmouth. Its brief was to enquire into the state and sufficiency of fortifications existing and planned for defending the UK, with a specific focus on naval dockyards.
They concluded in their report in February 1860 that the fleet, standing army and volunteer forces, even combined, did not provide sufficient defence. An intensive program of fortification
Palmerston Forts
The Palmerston Forts are a group of forts and associated structures, around the coast of Britain.The forts were built during the Victorian period on the recommendations of the 1860 Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom, following concerns about the strength of the French Navy, and...
was begun; the designs being overseen by Major William Jervois
William Jervois
Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois, GCMG, CB was a British military engineer who saw service, as Second Captain, in South Africa...
of the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
, who was secretary to the Commission. The Commission recommended that only vital points be fortified, and these were considered to be the Royal Dockyards at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, Chatham
Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional...
, Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, Portland Harbour
Portland Harbour
Portland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, off Dorset, on the south coast of England. It is one of the largest man-made harbours in the world. Grid reference: .-History:...
, Milford Haven
Milford Haven (harbour)
Milford Haven Waterway is a natural harbour in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. The Haven is a ria or drowned valley flooded at the end of the last Ice Age. formed by the Pembroke River and the Daugleddau estuary, and winds west to the sea...
and elsewhere. These forts became known as the Palmerston Forts
Palmerston Forts
The Palmerston Forts are a group of forts and associated structures, around the coast of Britain.The forts were built during the Victorian period on the recommendations of the 1860 Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom, following concerns about the strength of the French Navy, and...
. Portsmouth harbour, in particular, was given a new encircling line of forts to protect it from landward and seaward attack.
Queen Victoria supported the scheme. Its chief opponent was William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
, then Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
, who resigned in protest when it was accepted.
By the time the fortifications were completed in the 1880s it was clear that the French had not seriously planned to invade. The Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
of 1870–71 removed the threat and the forts became known as Palmerston's Follies. As a key purpose of fortification
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
is deterrent, this judgement was harsh, but with the rapid development of warship
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
design during the period, the time taken to plan and implement the works would always have caused problems with ensuring that the defences were capable of defeating a French attack force.
External links
- Royal Engineers Museum Coastal Defence