Spencer Perceval

Spencer Perceval (1 November 1762 – 11 May 1812) was a British statesman and Prime Minister. He is the only British Prime Minister to have been assassinated.

 Life 
Perceval was the seventh son of John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont by his second wife. His father, a close friend of Frederick, Prince of Wales and King George III, had served in the Cabinet as First Lord of the Admiralty.

Perceval was an Anglican and considered Anglicanism to be essential to the security of the state. He opposed Catholic emancipation.Encyclopedia.com He is buried at St Luke's Church in Charlton, south-east London.

Perceval was Prime Minister when William Wilberforce passed his Bill (law) ending the slave trade. 

The Orders in Council against trade which Perceval had written in 1807 became unpopular. In the winter of 1811 the Luddite riots started. They were also a cause of the War of 1812 with the United States of America. Perceval was forced to have an inquiry by the House of Commons. 

 Death 
On 11 May 1812, Perceval was on his way to attend the inquiry. In the lobby of the House of Commons, he was shot through the heart by John Bellingham and was pronounced dead at the scene. Perceval's body lay in 10 Downing Street for five days before burial. Bellingham gave himself up immediately, he was found guilty and hanged a week later for Perceval's murder.

Bellingham had a grievance, but it was not political. Bellingham petitioned the United Kingdom government for compensation over his imprisonment in Russia. This had been caused by his employer, but Bellingham blamed the British government for not getting him compensation.

 References 

Category:1762 births
Category:1812 deaths
Category:Assassinated English politicians
Category:Attorneys general
Category:Chancellors of the Exchequer
Category:English Anglicans
Category:Members of the British House of Commons for English constituencies
Category:Murders by firearm in England
Category:People murdered in London
Category:Politicians from London
Category:Chancellors of the Duchy of Lancaster