Born in Ulster, he began his political career as a Whig in the Irish Parliament and continued to concern himself with Irish affairs, especially Catholic emancipation, after becoming a Tory in 1795. He was Secretary for War (1807–09) but an attack on his policies by George Canning led to a duel between them. He became Foreign Secretary in 1812, and in this capacity represented his country at the Congress of Vienna (1814–15), playing a central part in reviving the Quadruple Alliance (whereby Britain, Russia, Austria, and Prussia united to defeat Napoleon). He committed suicide, apparently as a result of mental strain owing to pressure of work.