George Canning

Born:	11 Apr 1770
Died:	8 Aug 1827
Affiliation:	Tory
PM:	12 Apr 1827 to 8 Aug 1827
Length:	119 days
Title:
At Eton:	1782 to 1787
Constituencies:	24 Jul 1802 – 17 Nov 1806: Tralee 3 Nov 1806 – 7 May 1807: Newtown 5 May 1807 – 6 Oct 1812: Hastings 9 Oct 1812 – 24 Dec 1812: Petersfield 16 Oct 1812 – 15 Feb 1823: Liverpool 5 Nov 1812 – 5 Apr 1813: Sligo 10 Feb 1823 – 12 Jun 1826: Harwich 13 Jun 1826 – 24 Apr 1827: Newport 20 Apr 1827 – 5 Sep 1827: Seaford
Timeline:	1770: Born in Marylebone, to George Canning Sr. and Mary Ann Costello. Father dies shortly after his birth; he was raised in modest circumstances but aided by a wealthy uncle, Stratford Canning. 1782: Attended Eton College, became a gifted classical scholar and debater. 1787–1791: Studied at Christ Church, Oxford; won multiple academic prizes. 1793: Became MP for Newtown, Isle of Wight (age 23), backed by William Pitt the Younger. 1796: Appointed Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. 1800: Married Joan Scott, with whom he had four children. 1804–1806: Served as Treasurer of the Navy. 1807–1809: Appointed Foreign Secretary in the Portland ministry. Played a key role in the British attack on Copenhagen (1807) to prevent the Danish fleet from falling into Napoleon’s hands. 1809: Forced to resign after a duel with Lord Castlereagh, due to tensions over the conduct of the Peninsular War. 1812–1820: Served in various minor roles; briefly, Ambassador to Portugal. 1822: Returned as Foreign Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons under Prime Minister Lord Liverpool. Promoted a liberal foreign policy, supporting independence movements in Latin America and opposing intervention by European monarchies. 1827: On 10th April, following the death of Lord Liverpool, Canning is appointed Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury. 1827: Died in office, aged 57, after just 119 days as Prime Minister — the shortest-serving Prime Minister to die in office.
Notable:	Regarded as a liberal Tory, supporting Catholic emancipation and resisting reactionary European alliances. One of Britain’s most skilled Foreign Secretaries, promoting British influence in Latin America. Noted orator and writer – highly respected even by political opponents. Was part of a group of four friends – John Frere, Robert Smith, John Smith, and himself – who wrote ‘The Microcosm’, a collection of essays, poems, and other writings, aiming to provide insights into the social and intellectual life of the time. It was printed by Charles Knight in 1787.
Sources:	History of the UK Government The Victorian Web Britannica Eton College National Portrait Gallery Museum of Prime Ministers Wikipedia Hansard (1803–2005 )
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