Lord Castlereagh

Castlereagh was the chief British negotiator for the Treaty of Paris, which ended the war with France and exiled Napoleon to Elba. The treaty restored the Bourbon monarchy and set lenient terms for France, aiming to stabilize Europe.

Castlereagh represented Britain at the Congress of Vienna, which redrew the map of Europe after the Napoleonic Wars. He advocated for a balance of power and the containment of France, securing British interests and establishing a framework for European diplomacy that lasted decades.

Castlereagh helped form the Quadruple Alliance between Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia after Napoleon's final defeat. This alliance aimed to maintain the Vienna settlement and prevent future French aggression through periodic congresses.

Castlereagh died by suicide at his country estate, North Cray Place, using a letter opener. He had been suffering from paranoia and overwork, exacerbated by political attacks. His death shocked the British political establishment.