Perceval ministry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Perceval ministry
1809–1812
Perceval (1812)
Date formed	4 October 1809 (1809-10-04)
Date dissolved	11 May 1812 (1812-05-11)
People and organisations
Monarch	George III
Represented by	Prince Regent (1811–12)
Prime Minister	Spencer Perceval
Total no. of members	95 appointments
Member party	Tory Party
Status in legislature	Majority
Opposition party	Whig Party
Opposition leaders	George Ponsonby in the House of Commons Lord Grenville in the House of Lords
History
Legislature term(s)	4th UK Parliament
Predecessor	Second Portland ministry
Successor	Liverpool ministry

Imagine a team of leaders who help run a country. That's pretty much what a government cabinet is! This article is about the group of important people who worked with Spencer Perceval when he was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. They were in charge from 1809 to 1812.

Spencer Perceval's Cabinet Team

A cabinet is like the main leadership team for a country. These people are chosen by the Prime Minister to help make big decisions. They lead different parts of the government. Spencer Perceval's cabinet was made up of several key ministers.

Who Was in Charge?

• Spencer Perceval was the Prime Minister. He was also the First Lord of the Treasury, which is a bit like being in charge of the country's money. He also led the House of Commons, which is where elected politicians meet.
• The Earl of Eldon was the Lord Chancellor. This person is the head of the justice system and a very important legal advisor.
• The Earl Camden and later The Viscount Sidmouth were the Lord President of the Council. They oversaw important meetings and decisions of the King's Council.
• The Earl of Westmorland was the Lord Privy Seal. This role involved approving important documents.
• Richard Ryder was the Home Secretary. This person was responsible for law and order inside the country.
• The Earl Bathurst, The Marquess Wellesley, and Viscount Castlereagh served as Foreign Secretary. They handled relationships with other countries.
• The Earl Bathurst also served as President of the Board of Trade, looking after trade and business.
• The Earl of Liverpool was the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. He managed the military and the British colonies around the world. He also led the House of Lords, where appointed nobles meet.
• The Earl of Mulgrave and Charles Philip Yorke were the First Lord of the Admiralty. They were in charge of the Royal Navy, Britain's powerful fleet of ships.
• The Earl of Chatham and later The Earl of Mulgrave were the Master-General of the Ordnance. This role was about managing military supplies and weapons.
• The Earl of Harrowby and The Earl Camden were Ministers without Portfolio. This means they were in the cabinet but didn't have a specific department to run.

Changes in the Team

During Spencer Perceval's time as Prime Minister, some changes happened in his cabinet:

• In December 1809, Lord Wellesley took over as Foreign Secretary from Lord Bathurst.
• In May 1810, Lord Mulgrave became the Master-General of the Ordnance. Charles Philip Yorke then took Mulgrave's old job as First Lord of the Admiralty.
• In March 1812, Lord Castlereagh became the new Foreign Secretary.
• In April 1812, Lord Sidmouth became the Lord President, replacing Lord Camden. Lord Camden stayed in the cabinet as a minister without a specific job.
• A very sad event happened in May 1812: Perceval was shot and killed in the lobby of the House of Commons. This meant his time as Prime Minister came to a sudden end.

Other Important Roles

Besides the main cabinet members, many other people held important positions in the government:

• Charles Arbuthnot and Richard Wharton were Secretaries to the Treasury. They helped manage the country's finances.
• George Rose was the Vice-President of the Board of Trade and also the Treasurer of the Navy.
• The Viscount Palmerston was the Secretary at War, managing the army's administration.
• The Postmaster General was responsible for the postal service. This role was held by The Earl of Chichester and The Earl of Sandwich.
• The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the King's representative in Ireland, held by The Duke of Richmond.
• The Attorney General and Solicitor General were the chief legal advisors to the government.