Key People- Spencer Perceval (1762-1812)

Before His Premiership 

• During his time at Cambridge he associated himself with those who shared his Anglican evangelistic views which were prominent in his later career in politics. 
• He made publications against the French Revolution and other forms of radicalism which mad him the perfect candidate to prosecute radical and author of 'The Rights of Man', Thomas Paine during his years as a barrister. These of views of radicalism can be seen once again after his election for PM.
• His strict religious beliefs meant he held the principle that Sundays are a day of devotion. 
• He used these days to philanthropy and supporting the abolition of slavery.
• He also had a dedication to public order, upkeep in morality, and most obviously to the already existing arrangements between the state and the church which were in conflict with those who called for Parliamentary reform, but supported reforms in the Church of England.
• These attitudes can be seen later on as Prime Minister.
• He became an MP for Northampton in 1796
• He gave a prominent speech in 1789 defending  Pitt's government which set him out as a likely future member of Pitt's administration  

As Prime Minister

• Spencer Perceval was a Tory MP from 1809 to 1812. 
• His name was put forward to the King by the Cabinet to  and all other candidates declined. 
• Preceval was met with immediate problems, militarily, socially, and politically. 
• The country were still suffering economically due to the Napoleonic Wars and had experienced multiple, consecutive bad harvests causing a national food shortage. 
• Perceval did manage to relieve some of the pressure on the government to restore some balance to the economy following war, using a mixture of economies and loans. 
• He kept up his strict stance against radicalism, parliamentary reform, and religious freedom, with his views being very anti- Catholic as an Anglican evangelical  (as seen prior to his premiership).
• It is generally accepted that Perceval's traditional method to politics and lack of ambition held him back from making any long term, significant changes. 
• His most notable achievement whilst Prime Minister is likely to be passing the Regency Act 1811 following the deterioration of King George III's mental health. However this was based on a Bill written by Pitt around 30 years earlier so even then he cannot be credited with its success completely. The Act made strict limitations to the Regent's power of patronage. 
• During his time as PM he had to deal with trade crisis, intense opposition, high taxation, social unrest, and anger from Pitt's supporters. 

His Assassination 

• Regrettably for Pereceval, he is most well known for being the only Prime Minister in British history to be assassinated while still in office. 
• He was shot through the heart at point blank range in the House of Commons in May 1812. 
• The one to blame was John Bellingham who justified his actions by saying it was unjust for the government to refuse to help him after being wrongly imprisoned in Russia, he also claimed he should have been compensated for this.
• Bellingham was hanged for murder the same month and Perceval was given a monument in Westminster Abbey.