British Conservative statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835 and again from 30 August 1841 to 29 June 1846. As Home Secretary he reformed the criminal code and, in 1829, established the Metropolitan Police, whose officers took the nickname bobbies after him. Peel founded the modern Conservative Party, setting out its platform in the 1834 Tamworth Manifesto. As Prime Minister he repealed the Corn Laws in 1846 over the opposition of most of his own party, splitting the Conservatives for a generation and resigning within days of the repeal passing. He died in July 1850 after a fall from his horse.
Facts
RolePrime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834 to 1835 and 1841 to 1846); founder of the Conservative Party and of the Metropolitan Police 1 BirthplaceBury, Lancashire, England 1 Role
Role (category) Robert Peel
Filter Results2 entries
FAQs
What happened to the Conservative Party after Robert Peel repealed the Corn Laws?
The repeal split the Conservative Party for a generation; it won no majority again until the 1870s.
Peel repealed the Corn Laws in 1846 despite immense controversy and resistance, and in doing so he divided the Conservative Party. On the day the repeal finally passed, his government was defeated on another bill, and he resigned on 29 June. The party stayed split for a generation and did not win an election with a majority again until the 1870s. Peel did win the argument over the Corn Laws, though, and free trade went on to shape Victorian economic policy for the rest of the century.
Connections
Associated With
Introduced the bill that repealed the Corn Laws in 1846, splitting his own Conservative Party over the vote and resigning as Prime Minister within days of its passage.
Source Sir Robert Peel's Speech on the Repeal of the Corn Laws, 22 January 1846 (History Home)Robert Peel (speech text)
In Era
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
Participant In
Source Great Famine (Ireland) (Wikipedia)
Additional Source The Corn Laws (The National Archives, UK)Impact of 1815 Corn Laws, introductory paragraph
In the Other Atlases
Same As
Also in Law Atlas: the same subject.
Originated In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Sources
1. Sir Robert Peel (Museum of the Prime Minister)
Museum of the Prime MinisterSir Robert Peel biography
Personally gruff, direct, and forceful, Peel was a remarkably pragmatic and flexible politician. He founded the Conservative Party and led them to a majority victory in the 1841 election.
Robert Peel: Gender
As Home Secretary he reformed the criminal code and, in 1829, established the Metropolitan Police, whose officers took the nickname bobbies after him.
View the Source Sir Robert Peel's Speech on the Repeal of the Corn Laws, 22 January 1846 (History Home)
Robert Peel (speech text), History HomeAssociated With: Repeal of the Corn LawsView the Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.In Era: The Late Modern PeriodView the Source The Corn Laws (The National Archives, UK)
The National Archives (UK)Participant In: Repeal of the Corn Laws, Impact of 1815 Corn Laws, introductory paragraphQuote, Participant In: Repeal of the Corn Laws, Impact of 1815 Corn Laws, introductory paragraph
Conservative Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel repealed them in 1846
Great Famine (Ireland) (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationParticipant In: Great Famine (Ireland), Government responseQuote, Participant In: Great Famine (Ireland), Government response
Confronted by widespread crop failure in November 1845, Prime Minister Robert Peel purchased £100,000 worth of maize and cornmeal secretly from America
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
Choose a year to see this entry's facts and connections as the atlas records them at that moment: what it held then, what it held instead, and what it had not yet adopted. Choose Present for the current record.