Royal Commission on the Defense of the United Kingdom

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The Royal Commission on the Defense of the United Kingdom was set up by Lord Palmerston in 1859 , as concerns in Great Britain grew that France might be planning an invasion of England . At that time there had been great advances in gun technology and at the same time steam shipping was becoming more and more popular. Between 1854 and 1858 the French fleet had expanded to the point where the number of the United Kingdom was equal. These circumstances convinced Lord Palmerston that Britain's coastal military defenses were too weak should the fleet be deployed elsewhere to repel an attempted invasion.

The commission consisted of six naval and army officers and James Fergusson from the treasury , who in 1856/1857 had already spoken out in detail about the inadequate defenses of Portsmouth . The Commission's role was to assess the condition and performance of existing and planned fortresses in the United Kingdom, with a particular focus on naval ports and shipyards.

In February 1860, the commission's report found that all of the available armed forces could not together provide adequate defense of the country against invasion. A comprehensive program for building fortresses was decided. The main focus under the direction of Major William Jervois of the Royal Engineers was to be on the ports and shipyards of the British navy. The commission recommended that only the most important places should be upgraded. The coastal fortifications of Portsmouth , Chatham , Plymouth , Portland Harbor and Milford Haven were expanded. The forts are known as the Palmerston Forts . It was also decided that the ports of Portsmouth and Plymouth should also receive fortifications against attacks from land.

Queen Victoria supported the planning. The main opponent of the plans was William Ewart Gladstone , at the time Chancellor of the Exchequer , who resigned in protest when the plans were approved.

When the forts were all completed in the 1880s, it was clear that the French had never seriously planned an invasion. The Franco-Prussian War from 1870 to 1871 had finally eliminated the danger of invasion. The forts were now mocked as Palmerston Follies (German roughly: Palmerstons Madness). This is too harsh a judgment, because the facilities were designed to act as a deterrent, and in a time of rapidly developing technology, it has always been difficult for them to guarantee adequate protection.

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