In June 1859, Lord John Russell, as he was known, took the post of foreign secretary in the first Liberal government formed by the Viscount Palmerston. Queen Victoria described these long-time rivals as ‘two dreadful old men’. From an established Whig family, and now nearly sixty-seven years old, Russell was already an elder statesman. Diminutive in stature, he had served in the House of Commons for over forty-five years, and commanded respect. This would be his second term as foreign secretary, having filled the post briefly in the early 1850s. Before that he had spent nearly four years as prime minister, although his Whig government struggled to cope with the Great Famine in Ireland. Known for his liberal outlook, Russell's reputation rested above all on his influential role in passing the First Reform Act back in 1832. Now in the twilight of his career, he would return to the theme of the franchise, but with Palmerston opposed to electoral reform, would have to wait until his old rival's death in 1865. That would be his cue to leave the Foreign Office for another turn as prime minister, and a chance to introduce a Reform Bill of his own. Resigning in 1866 when his bill was defeated, he looked on from the House of Lords as the Second Reform Act was passed the following year.

Less than two weeks after Russell's instalment as foreign secretary, a new chapter began in Britain's relations with Japan. From 1 July 1859, as provided in the Treaty of Yedo the previous year, Yokohama, Nagasaki and Hakodate were opened to foreign commerce, and reports were soon arriving in Whitehall from Rutherford Alcock, Britain's recently appointed consul-general in Japan. An advocate of laissez faire trade, Russell welcomed this opportunity to explore a new market. Given Britain's current record of costly, far-flung military campaigns he also hoped for a measure of tranquillity, and peaceful relations with Japan.

The Crimean War, for example, was fought on a near global scale. In 1854, it had taken Admiral Stirling to Nagasaki in search of Russian ships, and an Anglo-French squadron to the coast of Kamchatka for the siege of Petropavlosk. In India, the Sepoy Rebellion was then suppressed, but left Britain counting the cost of mounting obligations abroad.