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In the UK, we tend to think of assassinations being in other countries, yet on this date in 1812 the British Prime Minister of the time, Perceval Spencer (1762 – 1812) was assassinated in the House of Commons by a bankrupt madman.
Before becoming the Prime Minister he ran a profitable law practice and entered the House of Commons as a Tory in 1796. He was solicitor general (1801-2), attorney general (1802-6), and, under the duke of Portland, chancellor of the exchequer (1807-9) before becoming prime minister in 1809. Although he opposed (1811) the regency of the Prince of Wales (later George IV), he continued in office under the prince. Despite conflicts with the duke of Wellington over the financing of the Peninsular War and despite a lack of solid parliamentary support, Perceval tenaciously and effectively carried on the war against Napoleonic France.
Silky
Before becoming the Prime Minister he ran a profitable law practice and entered the House of Commons as a Tory in 1796. He was solicitor general (1801-2), attorney general (1802-6), and, under the duke of Portland, chancellor of the exchequer (1807-9) before becoming prime minister in 1809. Although he opposed (1811) the regency of the Prince of Wales (later George IV), he continued in office under the prince. Despite conflicts with the duke of Wellington over the financing of the Peninsular War and despite a lack of solid parliamentary support, Perceval tenaciously and effectively carried on the war against Napoleonic France.
Silky
