"British Prime Minister" Robert Peel Clipped Signature COA For Sale

Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet,FRS(5 February 1788– 2 July 1850) was a BritishConservativestatesman who served twice asPrime Ministerof theUnited Kingdom(1834–35 and 1841–46) and twice asHome Secretary(1822–27 and 1828–30). He is regarded as the father of modernBritish policing, owing to his founding of theMetropolitian Police Service. Peel was one of the founders of the modern Conservative Party. The son of a wealthy textile-manufacturer and politician, Peel was the first prime minister from an industrial business background. He earned adouble firstin classics and mathematics fromChrist Church, Oxford. He entered theHouse of Commonsin 1809, where he became a rising star in the Tory Party. Peel enteredthe Cabinetas Home Secretary (1822–1827), where he reformed and liberalised the criminal law and created the modern police force, leading to a new type of officer known in tribute to him as "bobbies" and "peelers". After a brief period out of office he returned as Home Secretary under his political mentor the Duke of Wellington (1828–1830), also serving asLeader of the House of Commons. Initially a supporter ofcontinued legal discrimination against Catholics, Peel reversed himself and supported the repeal of theTest Act(1828) and theRoman Catholic Relief Act 1829, claiming that "though emancipation was a great danger, civil strife was a greater danger".After being in the Opposition 1830–34, he became Prime Minister in November 1834. Peel issued theTamworth Manifesto(December 1834), laying down the principles upon which the modern British Conservative Party is based. Hisfirst ministrywas a minority government, dependent on Whig support and with Peel serving as his ownChancellor of the Exchequer. After only four months, his government collapsed and he served asLeader of the OppositionduringMelbourne's second government(1835–1841). Peel became Prime Minister again after the1841 general election. Hissecond governmentruled for five years. He cut tariffs to stimulate trade, replacing the lost revenue with a 3%income tax. He played a central role in makingfree tradea reality and set up a modern banking system. His government's major legislation included theMines and Collieries Act 1842, theIncome Tax Act 1842, theFactories Act 1844and theRailway Regulation Act 1844. Peel's government was weakened by anti-Catholic sentiment following the controversial increase in theMaynooth Grantof 1845. After the outbreak of theGreat Irish Famine, his decision to join with Whigs andRadicalsto repeal theCorn Lawsled to his resignation as Prime Minister in 1846. Peel remained an influential MP and leader of thePeelitefaction until his death in 1850. Peel often started from a traditional Tory position in opposition to a measure, then reversed his stance and became the leader in supporting liberal legislation. This happened with the Test Act, Catholic Emancipation, the Reform Act, income tax and, most notably, the repeal of the Corn Laws. HistorianA. J. P. Taylorwrote: "Peel was in the first rank of 19th century statesmen. He carried Catholic Emancipation; he repealed the Corn Laws; he created the modern Conservative Party on the ruins of theold Toryism."