The Right Honourable  Spencer Perceval
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In office 4 October 1809 – 11 May 1812
Monarch	George III (Prince Regent)
Preceded by	The Duke of Portland
Succeeded by	The Earl of Liverpool
Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office 26 March 1807 – 11 May 1812
Monarch	George III (Prince Regent)
Preceded by	Lord Henry Petty
Succeeded by	Nicholas Vansittart
Born	1 November 1762(1762-11-01) Audley Square, London
Died	11 May 1812 (aged 49) Lobby of the House of Commons
Political party	Tory
Alma mater	Trinity College, Cambridge

Spencer Perceval, KC (1 November 1762 – 11 May 1812) was a British statesman and Prime Minister. The Right Honourable (abbreviated as The Rt Hon) is an Honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the political leader of the United Kingdom Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas Year 1809 ( MDCCCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Year 1812 ( MDCCCXII) a leap year started on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year George III (George William Frederick 4 June 1738 George III's long reign was marked by a series of military conflicts involving his kingdom much of the rest of Europe and places William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-Bentinck 3rd Duke of Portland PC (14 April 1738 &ndash 30 October 1809 was a British Whig and Tory Robert Banks Jenkinson 2nd Earl of Liverpool (7 June 1770 &ndash 4 December 1828 was a British politician and the longest-serving Prime Minister of the The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all Economic and Financial Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. Year 1807 ( MDCCCVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Year 1812 ( MDCCCXII) a leap year started on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year George III (George William Frederick 4 June 1738 George III's long reign was marked by a series of military conflicts involving his kingdom much of the rest of Europe and places Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne KG, PC, FRS ( 2 July 1780 – 31 January 1863) Nicholas Vansittart 1st Baron Bexley, PC ( 29 April 1766 &ndash 8 February 1851) was an English Politician, Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1762 ( MDCCLXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Year 1812 ( MDCCCXII) a leap year started on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords In the political tradition of some English-speaking countries, the term Tory has referred to a variety of political parties and Creeds since it was Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother" It was used in Ancient Rome as a title for the mother Goddess, and in Medieval Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Queen's Counsel ( postnominal QC) &ndash known as King's Counsel ( KC) during the reign of a male sovereign  &ndash are Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1762 ( MDCCLXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Year 1812 ( MDCCCXII) a leap year started on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the political leader of the United Kingdom He is the only British Prime Minister to have been assassinated. AssassiNation is the sixth album by Krisiun, released in 2006 on Century Media.

Biography

Perceval was the seventh son of John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont by his second wife, Catherine. John Perceval 2nd Earl of Egmont PC ( 25 February 1711 &ndash 4 December 1770) was a British politician political pamphleteer His father, a close advisor of Frederick, Prince of Wales and King George III, had served briefly in the Cabinet as First Lord of the Admiralty, but died when Perceval was ten. The Prince Frederick Prince of Wales (Frederick Louis 1 February 1707 &ndash 31 March 1751) was a member of the Hanoverian and George III (George William Frederick 4 June 1738 George III's long reign was marked by a series of military conflicts involving his kingdom much of the rest of Europe and places A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of Government, typically representing the executive branch. The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy.

He attended Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was impressed by the evangelical Anglican movement. Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The University of Cambridge (often Cambridge University) located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the In later life Perceval became an expert on Biblical prophecy and wrote pamphlets relating prophecies which he had discovered. Prophecy, generally describes the disclosing of Information that is not known to the Prophet by any ordinary means Perceval became a barrister on the Midland circuit, where he found it difficult to obtain sufficient work until aided by family connections. A barrister is a Lawyer found in many Common law Jurisdictions that employ a split profession (as opposed to a Fused profession) in relation Through his mother's family he was appointed as a Deputy Recorder of Northampton, and he was later made a Commissioner of Bankrupts and given a legal sinecure worth £119 annually. This article is about Northampton in England for other places of the same name see Northampton (disambiguation Northampton ( is a large Market Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organization to pay their Creditors Creditors may file a bankruptcy petition against A sinecure (from Latin sine, without and cura, care means an office which requires or involves little or no responsibility labour or active service Perceval acted for the Crown in the prosecutions of Thomas Paine (1792) and John Horne Tooke (1794), and wrote pamphlets supporting the impeachment of Warren Hastings. Thomas Paine (January 29 1737 &ndash June 8 1809 was an English Pamphleteer, Revolutionary, radical, Inventor, and Intellectual John Horne Tooke ( June 25, 1736 – March 18, 1812) was an English Politician and philologist. Warren Hastings ( December 6 1732 - August 22 1818) was the first Governor-General of Bengal, from 1773 to 1785

Perceval's brother Lord Arden served in William Pitt the Younger's government, which led to his being noticed. William Pitt the Younger (28 May 1759 &ndash 23 January 1806 was a British politician of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. He was considered in 1795 as a possible Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant for Ireland but rejected the idea of a political career. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world However he accepted nomination as MP for Northampton in 1796, when the proprietor's heir was ineligible, as a family trust. Northampton was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Northampton which existed until 1974 He made several speeches fiercely attacking Charles James Fox and revolutionary politics, which impressed Pitt, who apparently considered him as a possible successor. The Right Honourable Charles James Fox ( 24 January 1749 &ndash 13 September 1806) was a prominent British Whig He was appointed Solicitor of the Ordnance in 1798.

Perceval had no sympathy for Pitt's resignation over Catholic relief after the Act of Union with Ireland. Catholic Emancipation (Fuascailt na gCaitliceach or Catholic Relief, was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th He was therefore promoted in Addington's government to be Solicitor General from 1801, and then to Attorney General from 1802. Henry Addington 1st Viscount Sidmouth, PC (30 May 1757 &ndash 15 February 1844 was a British statesman and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from Her Majesty's Solicitor General for England and Wales, often known as the Solicitor General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Attorney In most Common law jurisdictions the Attorney General, or Attorney-General, is the main legal advisor to the government and in some jurisdictions may in addition However, Perceval did not agree with Addington's general policies (especially on foreign policy), and confined himself to speeches on legal issues. When he did defend the government, he was vituperative. He retained office when Pitt returned in 1804. While Perceval instigated prosecutions of radicals, he also reformed the laws on transportation to Australia. Transportation or penal transportation refers to the deporting of Convicted Criminals to a Penal colony, for example by France For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics.

At Pitt's funeral in January 1806, Perceval was one of the emblem bearers. He went into opposition when the new government included Fox, and made many effective speeches against the 'Ministry of All the Talents'. The Ministry of All the Talents was formed by William Wyndham Grenville 1st Baron Grenville on his appointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on He was especially vehement in his opposition to Catholic emancipation. When the Ministry fell, the Duke of Portland put together a shaky coalition of senior Tories with Perceval as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House of Commons. William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-Bentinck 3rd Duke of Portland PC (14 April 1738 &ndash 30 October 1809 was a British Whig and Tory In the political tradition of some English-speaking countries, the term Tory has referred to a variety of political parties and Creeds since it was The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all Economic and Financial The Leader of the House of Commons is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Commons With Portland aged, unwell and a figurehead, Perceval was effectively Prime Minister. He even lived at 10 Downing Street for most of the time, despite buying Elm Grove -- a large comfortable house in Ealing 8 miles (13 km) to the west of London, and former home of the Bishop of Durham -- in 1808 . Ealing is a Town in the London Borough of Ealing. It is a Suburban development situated 7 ^[1]

It was under Perceval that William Wilberforce passed his Bill abolishing the slave trade. William Wilberforce (24 August 1759 – 29 July 1833 was a British Politician, a Philanthropist As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another When Napoleon Bonaparte embargoed British trade under the Continental System, Perceval drafted Orders in Council to retaliate against foreign trade. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. The Continental System was the Foreign policy of Napoleon I of France in his struggle against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland during the An Order-in-Council is a type of legislation in Commonwealth Realms. He opposed the government grant to Maynooth College. St Patrick's College Maynooth ( Irish: Coláiste Naoimh Phádraig Maigh Nuad) is the "National Seminary for Ireland" Pontifical Univerisity and was a The government was continuously riven with splits and when the Duke of Portland suffered a stroke in August 1809 there was intense manoeuvring between Perceval and George Canning over who should take over. George Canning (11 April 1770 &ndash 8 August 1827 was a British statesman and Politician who served as Foreign Secretary and is at present the shortest serving Perceval won out with the support of Viscount Castlereagh. Robert Stewart 2nd Marquess of Londonderry, KG, GCH, PC (18 June 1769 in Dublin &ndash 12 August 1822 at Loring Hall, Kent

Unable to include Canning and his allies, Perceval's administration was notable mostly for its lack of most of the more important statesmen of the period. He had to serve as his own Chancellor after obtaining six refusals of office. The government sometimes struggled in the House of Commons, being defeated in motions critical of both foreign and economic policy. The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords He remained adamantly opposed to reform of the electoral system.

Perceval found himself having to cope with the final descent of King George III into madness. George III (George William Frederick 4 June 1738 George III's long reign was marked by a series of military conflicts involving his kingdom much of the rest of Europe and places Though Perceval feared that the Prince Regent would dismiss his government, the Prince abandoned the Whigs and confirmed Perceval in office. The Whigs (with the Tories) are often described as one of two political parties in England and later the United Kingdom from the late 17th to Later attempts by the Prince to entice others to join the Ministry were unsuccessful. Perceval pursued the Peninsular War doggedly and always defended it against those who prophesied defeat. The Peninsular War or Spanish War of Independence pitted an alliance of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal against France

Final years and assassination

A painting depicting the assassination of Perceval. Perceval is lying on the ground while his assassin, John Bellingham, is surrendering to officials (far right)

The Orders in Council against trade which Perceval had instituted in 1807 became unpopular in the winter of 1811 with Luddite riots breaking out. The Luddites were a Social movement of British Textile artisans in the early Nineteenth century who protested&mdashoften by destroying mechanized Perceval was forced to concede an inquiry by the House of Commons.

On May 11, 1812, Perceval was on his way to attend the inquiry when he was shot through the heart in the lobby of the House of Commons by a mentally unsound man named John Bellingham, who blamed his financial instability on a casual suggestion of Perceval. Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Year 1812 ( MDCCCXII) a leap year started on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year John Bellingham (c 1769 &ndash 18 May 1812) was the assassin of British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval. He died almost instantly, uttering the words "I am murdered," and Bellingham gave himself up to officers. He was found guilty and hanged a week later. ^[2]. It is often thought to be illegal to die in the Palace of Westminster, but is in fact only illegal to die in the House of Lords, as was established in this case. Prohibition of death consists of a political Social phenomenon and Taboo in which a law is passed stating that it is Illegal to die in a certain Political

19th century illustration of Perceval's assassination in the Newgate Calendar. The Newgate Calendar, subtitled The Malefactors' Bloody Register, was a popular work of Improving literature in the 18th and 19th centuries

Perceval's body lay in 10 Downing Street for five days before burial. He is buried at St Luke's Church in Charlton, south-east London. Charlton is an area and an electoral ward south-east London, in the London Borough of Greenwich, located between Greenwich and Woolwich London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom.

Perceval's statue at Northampton Guildhall

The fifth of Perceval's eleven children, John Thomas Perceval, was a pioneer whose work for the mental health advocacy movement led to lasting improvements in mental health care. John Thomas Perceval, born 1803 was a British pioneer whose work for the mental health advocacy movement led to lasting improvements in mental health care ^[3]

Spencer Perceval's administration, October 1809 - May 1812

• Spencer Perceval - First Lord of the Treasury, Leader of the House of Commons, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
• Lord Eldon - Lord Chancellor
• Lord Camden - Lord President of the Council
• Lord Westmorland - Lord Privy Seal
• Richard Ryder - Secretary of State for the Home Department
• Lord Bathurst - Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and President of the Board of Trade
• Lord Liverpool - Secretary of State for War and the Colonies and Leader of the House of Lords
• Lord Mulgrave - First Lord of the Admiralty
• Lord Chatham - Master-General of the Ordnance
• Lord Harrowby - Minister without Portfolio

Changes

• December, 1809 - Lord Wellesley succeeds Lord Bathurst as Foreign Secretary. The First Lord of the Treasury is the head of the commission exercising the ancient office of Lord High Treasurer in the United Kingdom, usually but not The Leader of the House of Commons is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Commons The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all Economic and Financial The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is in modern times a Sinecure office in the Government of the United Kingdom. John Scott 1st Earl of Eldon ( 4 June 1751 &ndash 13 January 1838) Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, was born in The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor is a senior and important functionary in the Government of the United Kingdom. John Jeffreys Pratt 2nd Earl and 1st Marquess Camden, KG, PC ( 11 February 1759 – 8 October 1840) British politician The Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Treasurer and above John Fane 10th Earl of Westmorland KG PC ( 1 June 1759 &ndash 15 December 1841) was a British Tory politician The Lord Privy Seal or Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom ranking beneath the Richard Ryder ( 5 July 1766 – 18 September 1832) was a British Tory politician who served as Home Secretary The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office Henry Bathurst 3rd Earl Bathurst ( 22 May 1762 &ndash 27 July 1834) was the elder son of the second earl. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a member of the United Kingdom Government heading the The Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry before the June 28, 2007 Robert Banks Jenkinson 2nd Earl of Liverpool (7 June 1770 &ndash 4 December 1828 was a British politician and the longest-serving Prime Minister of the The Secretary of State for War and the Colonies was a British cabinet level position responsible for the army and the British colonies (other than India Leader of the House of Lords is a function in the British government that is always held in combination with a formal Cabinet position most often Lord President Henry Phipps 1st Earl of Mulgrave ( 14 February 1755 &ndash 7 April 1831) was a British politician The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were the members of the Board of Admiralty, which exercised command over the Royal Navy. John Pitt 2nd Earl of Chatham, KG, PC ( 9 October 1756 - 24 September 1835) was the eldest son of William Pitt the The Master-General of the Ordnance (MGO was an important British military position before 1855, when its duties were largely abolished Dudley Ryder 1st Earl of Harrowby, PC ( 22 December 1762 &ndash 26 December 1847) was a prominent British politician A Minister without Portfolio is either a Government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry. Richard Colley Wesley, later Wellesley 1st Marquess Wellesley KG PC ( 20 June 1760 – 26 September 1842) was Bathurst continues at the Board of Trade.
• May, 1810 - Lord Mulgrave succeeds Lord Chatham as Master-General of the Ordnance. Charles Philip Yorke succeeds Mulgrave as First Lord of the Admiralty. Charles Philip Yorke ( 12 March 1764 &ndash 13 March 1834) was a British politician
• March, 1812 - Lord Castlereagh succeeds Lord Wellesley as Foreign Secretary. Robert Stewart 2nd Marquess of Londonderry, KG, GCH, PC (18 June 1769 in Dublin &ndash 12 August 1822 at Loring Hall, Kent
• April, 1812 - Lord Sidmouth succeeds Lord Camden as Lord President. Henry Addington 1st Viscount Sidmouth, PC (30 May 1757 &ndash 15 February 1844 was a British statesman and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from Camden remains in the cabinet as a minister without portfolio.

References

External links

• More about Spencer Perceval on the Downing Street website.