Page "George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen" Paragraph 7

In response this latest change of mind by the Ottomans / Turks, the Russians, on 2 July 1853 occupied the Turkish-satellite states of Wallachia and Moldavia, as they had during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774.

Almost immediately, the Russian troops deployed along the northern banks of the Danube River, implying that they may cross the river.

On 23 October 1853, the Ottoman Empire declared war on Russia.

A Russian naval raid on Sinope, on 30 November 1853, resulted in the destruction of the Turkish fleet in the battle of Sinope.

When Russia ignored an Anglo-French ultimatum to abandon the Danubian provinces, England and France declared war on Russia on 28 March 1854.

In September 1854, British and French troops landed on the Crimean peninsula at Eupatoria north of Sevastopol.

The Allied troops then moved across the Alma River on 20 September 1854 at the battle of Alma and set siege to the fort of Sevastopol.

A Russian attack on the allied supply base at Balaclava on 25 October 1854 was rebuffed.

The battle of Balaclava is noted for its famous ( or rather infamous ) charge of the Light Brigade.

On 5 November 1854, Russian forces tried to relieve the siege at Sevastopol and tried to defeat the Allied armies in the field in the battle of Inkerman.

However, this attempt failed and the Russians were rebuffed.

Dissatisfaction as to the course of the war arose in England.

As reports returned detailing the mismanagement of the conflict arose Parliament began to investigate.

On 29 January 1855, John Arthur Roebuck introduced a motion for the appointment of a select committee to enquire into the conduct of the war.

This motion was carried by the large majority of 305 in favor and 148 against.

Treating this as a vote of no confidence in his government, Aberdeen resigned.

Apart from his political career Aberdeen was also a scholar.

He was appointed Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen in 1827 and was President of the Society of Antiquaries of London.