The Assassination of the Prime Minister: John Bellingham and the Murder of Spencer Perceval is the latest book by historian David C. Hanrahan. Tracing the back story to John Bellingham’s crime and it’s impact on the politics of the time, the book looks set to be an in depth insight into the only British Prime Minister to have ever been assassinated.
The assassination itself was carried out in1812, four years following Bellingham’s release from imprisonment in Russia. When compensation was not forthcoming from the British government for not intervening, he took his retribution out on the head of parliament.
Spencer Perceval, on the other hand served as Prime Minister from 1809 until his murder in 1812, years after Bellingham’s incarceration in Russia. Although, it looks clear that it is the lack of compensation that instigated the assassination. Perceval held the position of Prime Minister during the time of The Madness of George III, economic depression and the Napoleonic Wars.
Set for release on the 1st August 2012, The Assassination of the Prime Minister: John Bellingham and the Murder of Spencer Perceval promises to tell the story of a man let down by his country and the revenge that he took. However, hopefully it will include a lot more about the society and politics of the time to add a bit more depth to one of the UK’s most infamous of crimes.
