Only one British Prime Minister has ever been gunned down. He was Spencer Perceval in 1812 and the man who shot him, John Bellingham, was from Liverpool.
Bellingham was a businessman involved in exporting timber to Russia who lost everything when a business contact went bankrupt. Unable to pay off his debts, Bellingham found himself in prison. On release, he went to Russia to complain about the situation and was imprisoned there too. Despite writing to the British ambassador about being released, red tape ensured he stayed there for months. When he finally came home, he sought compensation by writing to his MP and the Prince Regent, but nothing came of this.
Bellingham decided to act by shooting the Prime Minister, making several visits to the House of Commons to plot his crime. He bought two pistols from a shop in London and on 11th May he shot Perceval dead as he entered the Commons lobby in full view of several witnesses. Bellingham was recognised by Liverpool MPs Banastre Tarleton and Bamber Gascoyne and immediately restrained and disarmed.
Bellingham was taken to Newgate prison and tried just 4 days later, making a long statement pleading his grievances. The jury took only 15 minutes to find him guilty and the judge sentenced him to death, decreeing that Bellingham had known what he was doing. Three days after this, he was hanged and his body taken away for dissection at St Bartholomews Hospital.. |
