13. Spencer Perceval, the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated was shot in front of his shocked peers
Spencer Perceval is one of Britain’s lesser-known Prime Ministers. Not many people know much about his politics, policies or background. Indeed, by far the best-known thing about Perceval is that he holds the dubious honor of being the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated while in office. By all accounts, he was cut down in his prime, before he could make a real mark on political history.
Perceval was the epitome of a 19th century English politician. Born in London in 1762 to an aristocratic family, he gained the best education money could buy at the prestigious Harrow school before graduating from the elite Cambridge University. A career in law kept Perceval occupied for some years, but then he entered politics as a Conservative when he was in his 30s. He wisely aligned himself with Pitt the Younger and rose rapidly. By 1807, he was Chancellor of the Exchequer and in 1809 he got the top job.
It was the morning of May 11, 1812, and the 49 year old Perceval was in the Houses of Parliament, about to enter the main chamber. All of a sudden, a man in a large coat calmly walked up to him, pulled out a pistol and shot the Prime Minister once in the chest. Reportedly, Perceval screamed in horror “I am murdered”. His colleagues carried him to a small room for treatment, but within a few minutes, he was dead. His assassin, meanwhile, had surrendered without a fight.
It turned out that Peceval’s assassin, a man named John Bellingham, was a British businessman who had been falsely imprisoned in Russia. Despite his please, the British government had not intervened to free him, and he was only able to return home after serving his sentence for his alleged debts. Upon returning his home country, he tried to win compensation from the government, but had no luck. Frustrated and angry, he plotted the ultimate symbolic revenge.
Bellingham pleaded not guilty of murder, claiming he was actually insane. His appeal was dismissed. The only man to kill a standing British Prime Minister was hanged on May 18, 1812, just two days after Perceval’s adoring wife and 12 children buried his victim.