Of John Bellingham: The man who shot Spencer Perceval, the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated.
For the pub quiz or the TV game show the name of the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated is useful to know. Less well-known is the name of his assassin: John Bellingham. Even less well-known is why he did it and what happened afterwards.
On May 11th 1812 the Prime Minister walked from 10 Downing Street to the House of Commons. John Bellingham was in the lobby of the Parliament Building. As Perceval crossed the lobby floor Bellingham walked up, drew two pistols from the deep pockets of his overcoat, stood close to Perceval, and shot the Prime Minister. Bellingham then walked to the side of the lobby and sat quietly, allowing the ensuing hubbub to grow and then subside, waiting to be arrested and taken into custody. He made no effort to escape or to deny what he had done.
Perhaps we could classify his actions as those of a madman. After all, people who are mad are often (and often wrongly) presumed to commit violence without having a good reason. It is quite enough to point to this insanity to justify unusual actions and hence no other motive is required. But, as with so many human actions, things were not quite as simple, not so black and white. There was, in fact, more to this than meets the eye.
