George Canning

The Right Honourable George Canning (11 April 1770-8 August 1827) was a British politician who served as Foreign Secretary and, briefly, Prime Minister.

Entry into Politics

Stratford Canning was a Whig, and he introduced his nephew in the 1780s to Whigs such as Charles James Fox, Edmund Burke, and Richard Brinsley Sheridan (George Canning's friendship with Sheridan would last for the remainder of Sheridan's life). George Canning's impoverished background and limited financial resources, however, made unlikely a bright political future with the Whigs, who were led by those members of the wealthy landed aristocracy in opposition to the Crown. Also, Canning became more conservative in early 1790s in reaction to the radicalism of the French Revolution.

Related Topics:
Whigs - Charles James Fox - Edmund Burke - Richard Brinsley Sheridan - French Revolution

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When Canning decided to enter politics, then, he sought and received the patronage of the leader of the Crown party, William Pitt the Younger. In 1793, thanks to the help of Pitt, Canning became a Member of Parliament for Newtown on the Isle of Wight, a rotten borough. In 1796, he changed seats to a different rotten borough, Wendover in Buckinghamshire.

Related Topics:
William Pitt the Younger - 1793 - Member of Parliament - Newtown - Isle of Wight - Rotten borough - 1796 - Wendover - Buckinghamshire

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