Abstract
Spencer Perceval was born in November 1762, and quickly rose through the political ranks from Member of Parliament to Chancellor of the Exchequer, culminating in his appointment as Prime Minister in 1809. He was assassinated by John Bellingham, a British national, who was imprisoned in Russia 1803. He held a long-lasting vengeance with the British Government for not upholding compensation claims for his imprisonment. As such John Bellingham acted upon his grievances on 11 May 1812, shooting and fatally wounding Spencer Perceval in the old House of Commons. Spencer Perceval died from his wounds shortly after and was buried on 16 May 1812, whilst John Bellingham was tried by a jury of his peers, and subsequently hanged on 15 May 1812.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.