Spencer Perceval

Spencer Perceval (November 1, 1762 - May 11, 1812). British Statesman and Prime Minister.

Perceval was a younger son of the 2nd Earl of Egmont, a close advisor of Frederick, Prince of Wales and King George III.

After studying at Harrow and Cambridge, Perceval became a lawyer and entered parliament in 1796. In Addington's government, Perceval served as Solicitor General (1801-1802), and then as Attorney General under Addington and Pitt (1802-1806).

In the new administration of the Duke of Portland in 1807, Perceval joined the Cabinet as Chancellor of the Exchequer and of the Duchy of Lancaster, and served as Leader of the House of Commons for the Duke. On Portland's resignation, Perceval succeeded him as Prime Minister.

Perceval was an extreme anti-Catholic bigot, and his administration was notable mostly for its lack of most of the more important statesmen of the period. Nevertheless, Perceval was a competent parliamentary manager, and during his administration Britain pursued the Peninsular War doggedly.

On May 11, 1812, Perceval was assassinated in the House of Commons by John Bellingham, a mad man who had a personal grievance against the Prime Minister.

Spencer Perceval's Administration, October 1809 - May 1812

• Spencer Perceval - First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer and 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
• Lord Mulgrave - First Lord of the Admiralty
• Lord Chatham - Master-General of the Ordnance

Changes

• December, 1809 - Lord Wellesley[?] succeeds Lord Bathurst as Foreign Secretary. 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.
• March, 1812 - Lord Castlereagh succeeds Lord Wellesley as Foreign Secretary.
• April, 1812 - Lord Sidmouth[?] succeeds Lord Camden as Lord President. Camden remains in the cabinet as a minister without portfolio.