On this day in 1812, Spencer Perceval became the only British Prime Minister ever to be assassinated. 
On an otherwise unremarkable Monday afternoon at about a quarter past five, Perceval entered the lobby of the House of Commons on his way into the chamber
A man, who had been sitting quietly by the fireplace stood up, walked towards the prime minister, and shot him in the chest
A man, who had been sitting quietly by the fireplace stood up, walked towards the prime minister, and shot him in the chest
Perceval, on being shot, staggered backward.
“Oh! Murder! Murder!” he exclaimed, before collapsing, dead.
His corpse was then carried into the Secretary’s Room.
This incredibly detailed account of events and the scene is held by National Archives:
“Oh! Murder! Murder!” he exclaimed, before collapsing, dead.
His corpse was then carried into the Secretary’s Room.
This incredibly detailed account of events and the scene is held by National Archives:
The above plan was part of the trial papers for John Bellingham, the assassin who, after shooting the prime minister, sat back down in his seat and made no attempt to escape or resist arrest.
Bellingham, a merchant trader, is often described as a deranged business man. He was apparently aggrieved about being imprisoned in Russia in 1804 while on a business trip for an alleged debt. The British consul made little or no attempt to have him freed.
The government, believing that the assignation might be the start of a wider movement of civil unrest, put Bellingham on trial at the Old Bailey in less than five days. This was despite the gravity and national interest in the case.
Bellingham claimed that his intended target had been the British Ambassador to Russia, but on seeing Perceval, he decided to shoot him instead.
Bellingham was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. The trial judge included that he should be ‘anatomised’ after death.
Bellingham was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. The trial judge included that he should be ‘anatomised’ after death.
At that time, prisoners who were sentenced to death were sent to medical schools for dissection.
According to records, "something of interest" was found in his stomach and left testicle and these particular parts were kept in the Royal College of Surgeons Museum.
According to records, "something of interest" was found in his stomach and left testicle and these particular parts were kept in the Royal College of Surgeons Museum.
Other than whatever was in John Bellingham’s stomach and left testicle, his skull was also kept, and is still held by Queen Mary University hospital to this day.
A forensic imaging expert has recently completed a new digital portrait of what Bellingham likely looked like.
A forensic imaging expert has recently completed a new digital portrait of what Bellingham likely looked like.
Spencer Perceval was buried in the family vault at St Luke’s, Charlton in a private funeral at his widows request. The family originated from this part of London.
In Liverpool, where Bellingham’s wife and children lived, a considerable amount of money was raised by the public to financially support her. There were many who thought the family were then much better off than they had been in their previous circumstances.
To this day it is claimed that John Bellingham was a ‘lone wolf’ assassin with a simple grudge against the government.
