Robert Peel facts for kids

{{Infobox officeholder | honorific-prefix = The Right Honourable | name = Sir Robert Peel | honorific-suffix = Bt FRS | image = Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Bt by Henry William Pickersgill-detail.jpg | caption = Portrait by Henry William Pickersgill | office1 = Prime Minister of the United Kingdom | monarch1 = Victoria | term_start1 = 30 August 1841 | term_end1 = 29 June 1846 | predecessor1 = The Viscount Melbourne | successor1 = Lord John Russell | term_start2 = 10 December 1834 | term_end2 = 8 April 1835 | monarch2 = William IV | predecessor2 = The Duke of Wellington | successor2 = The Viscount Melbourne | office3 = Chancellor of the Exchequer | primeminister3 = Himself | term_start3 = 15 December 1834 | term_end3 = 8 April 1835 | predecessor3 = The Lord Denman | successor3 = Thomas Spring Rice | office4 = Home Secretary | primeminister4 = The Duke of Wellington | term_start4 = 26 January 1828 | term_end4 = 22 November 1830 | predecessor4 = The Marquess of Lansdowne | successor4 = The Viscount Melbourne | primeminister5 = The Earl of Liverpool | term_start5 = 17 January 1822 | term_end5 = 10 April 1827 | predecessor5 = The Viscount Sidmouth | successor5 = William Sturges Bourne | office6 = Chief Secretary for Ireland | primeminister6 = The Earl of Liverpool | term_start6 = August 1812 | term_end6 = August 1818 | predecessor6 = The Earl of Mornington | successor6 = Charles Grant | birth_date = (1788-02-05)5 February 1788 | birth_place = Bury, Lancashire, England | death_date = 2 July 1850(1850-07-02) (aged 62) | death_place = Westminster, Middlesex, England | resting_place = St Peter Churchyard, Drayton Bassett | nationality = English | education = Harrow School | alma_mater = Christ Church, Oxford (BA)
Lincoln's Inn | party = Tory (1809–1834)
Conservative (1834–1846)
Peelite (1846–1850) | parents = Sir Robert Peel, 1st Baronet
Ellen Yates | spouse =

| children =

| signature = Robert Peel Signature.svg | signature_alt = Cursive signature in ink | serviceyears = 1820 | rank = Lieutenant | unit = Staffordshire Yeomanry |}

Sir Robert Peel (born February 5, 1788 – died July 2, 1850) was an important British politician. He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom two times. He was also the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary.

Peel is famous for creating modern British police. The police officers were even nicknamed "bobbies" or "peelers" after him. He also helped found the modern Conservative Party.

Peel came from a wealthy family that owned textile factories. He was the first prime minister from a business background. He studied at Christ Church, Oxford and was very smart. He joined the House of Commons in 1809 and quickly became a rising star.

He made many changes to laws, including those about crime and policing. He also played a big role in making free trade more common in Britain.

Robert Peel's Early Life and Education

Peel was born in Bury, England. His father, also named Sir Robert Peel, was a rich textile factory owner and a politician. His family was very important during the early Industrial Revolution. They later moved to Drayton Manor near Tamworth, Staffordshire. Today, that site is a theme park!

Peel went to school with a private tutor and at local schools. He also attended Harrow School starting in 1800. At Harrow, he was friends with the famous poet Lord Byron. Byron said Peel was always well-behaved, while he himself often got into trouble.

Christ Church, Oxford, where Robert Peel studied from 1805 to 1808.

In 1805, Peel went to Christ Church, Oxford university. He was the first student there to get top grades in both Classics and Mathematics. After university, he studied law. He also served in the military as a captain and later a lieutenant.

Becoming a Politician

Peel started his political career in 1809 when he was just 21. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for a small area in Ireland called Cashel. His father and Arthur Wellesley (who would become the Duke of Wellington) helped him get elected.

His first speech in Parliament was a big success. People said it was one of the best first speeches ever. He later became an MP for Oxford University.

In 1812, Peel was made Chief Secretary for Ireland. He helped create a police force in Ireland to keep the peace. This force was a early version of the Royal Irish Constabulary.

Peel was against allowing Catholics to be in Parliament at first. He believed they could not swear loyalty to the King. However, he later changed his mind on this issue.

Key Changes as Home Secretary

Peel became Home Secretary in 1822. This was a very important job in the government. As Home Secretary, he made many big changes to Britain's criminal laws.

• He reduced the number of crimes that could be punished by death.
• He made laws simpler by combining many old rules into new ones.
• He improved prisons, making sure jailers were paid and prisoners received education.

In 1829, Peel created the Metropolitan Police Force for London. This was a new police force based at Scotland Yard. The 1,000 new police officers were called "bobbies" or "peelers" after him. At first, people didn't like them much, but they helped reduce crime in London. By 1857, all British cities had to create their own police forces.

The Duke of Wellington (left) and Robert Peel (right) in 1844.

Peel also helped repeal the Test Acts in 1828. These laws had stopped non-Anglicans from holding many public jobs. He also supported the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829. This law allowed Catholics to become Members of Parliament. These changes were very important for religious freedom in Britain.

First Time as Prime Minister (1834–1835)

After a few years out of power, Peel became Prime Minister in November 1834. He was in Italy at the time, so the Duke of Wellington filled in for him until he returned.

Peel's government was a minority government. This meant it didn't have enough support to pass laws easily. He called a general election in 1835. His party gained seats, but still not enough for a majority.

Peel released the Tamworth Manifesto during this election. This document explained his plans and became the foundation for the modern Conservative Party. It promised careful and sensible reforms.

However, his government only lasted about 100 days. Other political parties worked together to defeat his plans. Peel resigned, and the Whigs returned to power.

Leading the Opposition (1835–1841)

Peel then became the Leader of the Opposition. In 1839, Queen Victoria asked him to form a new government. But Peel wanted some of her household staff, who were linked to the Whigs, to be replaced. The Queen refused, leading to the "Bedchamber Crisis." Peel decided not to form a government, and the Whigs stayed in power.

Second Time as Prime Minister (1841–1846)

Peel finally led a majority government after the 1841 election. He took office during a difficult economic time. There was a budget deficit and low confidence in businesses.

Economic and Financial Reforms

To raise money, Peel brought back the income tax in 1842. This tax was about 3 percent. The money collected helped him remove or reduce over 1,200 taxes on imported goods. This was a step towards free trade.

Factory Act

Peel also passed the Factory Act 1844. This law limited the hours that children and women could work in factories. It also set basic safety rules for machinery. This continued the work of his own father, who had also worked to improve factory conditions.

In 1843, someone tried to assassinate Peel, but they accidentally killed his secretary instead. This event led to new rules about the legal defense of insanity.

Corn Laws and Resignation

The most famous act of Peel's second time as Prime Minister was repealing the Corn Laws. These laws had kept the price of grain high by taxing imported grain. They helped farmers but made food expensive for everyone else.

The Great Irish Famine (1845–1849) made Peel decide to repeal these laws. The famine caused a severe food shortage in Ireland. Many people in his own party did not support this change. However, with help from other parties, the Corn Laws were repealed in 1846.

Peel knew that repealing these laws would likely end his time as Prime Minister. On June 29, 1846, he resigned. He believed it was the right thing to do for the country, even if it cost him his job.

Later Years and Death

Even after resigning, Peel remained an important Member of Parliament. He continued to support free trade policies.

On June 29, 1850, Peel was thrown from his horse while riding in London. The horse fell on him, and he died three days later, on July 2, at age 62. His death was caused by a broken collarbone that damaged blood vessels.

His followers, known as "Peelites," later joined with other political groups to form the Liberal Party.

His Family Life

Peel married Julia Floyd in 1820. They had seven children:

• Julia
• Robert
• Frederick
• William
• John
• Arthur
• Eliza

Julia, Lady Peel, died in 1859. Many of their descendants now live in different parts of the world.

Remembering Robert Peel

Many people criticized Peel during his life. They said he betrayed his party because he often changed his mind and supported more liberal ideas. However, historians now see him as a very important leader. He was known for his strong sense of duty and intelligence.

Peel was the first British Prime Minister to have his photograph taken. He is also featured on the cover of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

Statues

You can find statues of Sir Robert Peel in many places in Britain and Australia:

• Bury (his birthplace)
• Parliament Square, London
• Accrington
• Preston
• Edgbaston, Birmingham
• Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester
• Montrose
• Woodhouse Moor, Leeds
• Tamworth
• George Square, Glasgow
• Peel Park, Bradford
• Wool Exchange, Bradford
• Hendon Police College, Hendon
• Gawsworth Old Hall, Cheshire
• High Street, Dronfield
• Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia

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  Statue in Bury

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  Statue in Parliament Square, London

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  Statue in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester

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  Statue in Woodhouse Moor, Leeds

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  Statue in George Square, Glasgow

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  Statue in Peel Park, Bradford

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  Statue near Gawsworth Old Hall

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  Statue in Edgbaston, Birmingham

Public Houses and Hotels

Many pubs and hotels are named after Sir Robert Peel, especially in the United Kingdom:

• Sir Robert Peel pub, Bury
• Sir Robert Peel public house, Tamworth
• Peel Hotel, Tamworth
• Sir Robert Peel public house, Edgeley, Stockport
• Sir Robert Peel public house, Heckmondwike
• Sir Robert Peel public house, Leicester
• Sir Robert Peel public house, Malden Road, London NW5
• Sir Robert Peel public house, Kilburn, London NW6
• Sir Robert Peel public house, London SE17
• Sir Robert Peel Hotel, Preston
• Peel Park Hotel, Accrington
• Sir Robert Peel public house Rowley Regis
• Sir Robert Peel public house, Southsea
• Sir Robert Peel public house, Stoke-on-Trent
• Sir Robert Peel public house, Kingston upon Thames
• Sir Robert Peel public house, Bloxwich

Outside the UK:

• The Sir Robert Peel Hotel in Collingwood, Australia
• The Sir Robert Peel Hotel in North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• The Sir Robert Peel Motor Lodge Hotel, Alexandria Bay, New York

Other Memorials

• Peel Park, Bradford is a large park named after him.
• The Peel Tower Monument is on Holcombe Hill in Ramsbottom.
• The Sir Robert Peel Hospital is in Tamworth.
• There is a small monument in Dronfield.
• Peel Streets are found in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Montreal.
• The Peel River and Peel High School are in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia.
• Robert Peel Primary School is in Sandy, Bedfordshire.
• A British ship, the SS Sir Robert Peel, was named after him.
• The right wing of the Trafford Centre is called Peel Avenue.
• The mascot of Bury Football Club is Robbie the Bobby.
• A building at the Home Office headquarters is named Peel.
• The Peel building is at the University of Salford.
• Peel Crescent is in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
• Peel Street, Hong Kong is a small street in Hong Kong.
• Peel Street in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.
• The Regional Municipality of Peel in Ontario, Canada, is named after him.
  • This region includes the Peel Regional Police and Peel Regional Paramedic Services.
• Peel Forest Park and Mount Peel in New Zealand are named after him.
• The nicknames "bobbies" and "peelers" for British police officers.
• Peel's Acts are a group of laws named after him.