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Spencer Perceval (1809-1812) TORY
Spencer Perceval was born in Audley Square, London on 1st November 1762. He was the second son of nine children born to the Earl of Egmont and his second wife Catherine Compton. From the Earl’s first marriage Spencer Perecval had seven half brothers and sisters.Perceval was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge and was awarded an MA in 1782. He was called to the Bar in 1786 by Lincoln’s Inn and became a King’s Counsel. He became Deputy Recorder of Northampton in 1790. In 1790 Perceval married Jane Spencer-Wilson and the couple had six sons and six daughters.
Perceval was a member of the London and Westminster Light Horse Volunteers. In 1796 Perceval became MP for Northampton which he held until his death. In Addington’s government, Perceval was Solicitor General and became Attorney General under Addington and then again under Pitt the Younger. When the Duke of Portland became Prime Minister, Perceval was made Chancellor of the Exchequer and stayed in that post until the Duke of Portland resigned. Spencer Perceval then became Prime Minister himself. It was a difficult time to be in charge, with the war with France and the problems caused by the Industrial Revolution. George III called Perceval “the most straightforward man I have ever known.” In 1809 Abraham Lincoln, William Gladstone and Edgar Allen Poe were born. Arthur Wellesley defeated the French at Oporto and Talavera and was made Duke of Wellington. In 1810 Simon Bolivar became a factor in South American politics. Also in that year P.T. Barnum was born. In 1812 Charles Dickens was born. On the morning of 11th May 1811, Spencer Perceval told his wife that he had dreamt the previous night that he was shot in the House of Commons by a man wearing a green coat with brass buttons. A year later to the day on 11th.May 1812, Spencer Perceval was entering the Lobby of the House of Commons and was shot by a merchant from Liverpool called John Bellingham. He blamed Perceval for the failure of a business venture that Bellingham had undertaken in Russia. Spencer Perceval is the only British Prime Minister to have been assassinated. By comparison four American Presidents have been assassinated. John Bellingham was found guilty of murder and on 18th May 1812 (seven days after Perceval’s death) Bellingham was hanged in front of Newgate Prison, despite a finding in court that he was insane. 1. Who was Perceval’s father?
2. What was the name of Perceval’s wife?
3. For which town was Perceval the Deputy Recorder?
4. Who shot Perceval?
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