Spencer Perceval
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The Right Honourable Spencer Perceval KC |
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Spencer Perceval painted by George Francis Joseph, 1812
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| Prime Minister of the United Kingdom | |
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In office 4 October 1809 – 11 May 1812 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Regent | Prince George (1811–12) |
| Preceded by | The Duke of Portland |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Liverpool |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | |
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In office 26 March 1807 – 11 May 1812 |
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| Prime Minister | The Duke of Portland |
| Preceded by | Lord Henry Petty |
| Succeeded by | Nicholas Vansittart |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1 November 1762 Mayfair, Middlesex, Great Britain |
| Died | 11 May 1812 (aged 49) Westminster, Middlesex, United Kingdom |
| Cause of death | Assassination |
| Political party | Tory |
| Spouse(s) | Jane Wilson (m. 1790) |
| Children | Jane Frances Maria Spencer Charles Frederick Henry Dudley Isabella John Louisa Frederica Ernest |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
| Religion | Church of England (Evangelical) |
| Signature |  |
Spencer Perceval, KC, PC (1 November 1762 – 11 May 1812) was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 4 October 1809 until his death on 11 May 1812. He is the only British prime minister to have been assassinated. He is also the only solicitor general or attorney general to have been prime minister, and the only prime minister whose entire lifetime was spent in the reign of the sovereign under which he held office, George III (who had become king in 1760 and survived Perceval to 1820).
The younger son of an Irish earl, Perceval was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge. He studied law at Lincoln’s Inn, practised as a barrister on the Midland circuit and in 1796 became a King’s Counsel before entering politics at the age of 33 as a Member of Parliament for Northampton. A follower of William Pitt, Perceval always described himself as a "friend of Mr Pitt" rather than a Tory. Perceval was opposed to Catholic emancipation and reform of Parliament; he supported the war against Napoleon and the abolition of the slave trade. He was opposed to hunting, gambling and adultery, did not drink as much as most Members of Parliament, gave generously to charity, and enjoyed spending time with his twelve children.
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