Robert Peel

:{{about|the British Prime Minister|other people named Robert Peel|Robert Peel (disambiguation)}}

Corn Laws

The most notable act of Peel's ministry, however, was the one that brought it down. This time Peel moved against the landholders by repealing the Corn Laws, which supported agricultural revenues by restricting grain imports. This radical break with Tory protectionism was triggered by the appalling Irish potato famine.

Related Topics:
Corn Laws - Irish potato famine

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At first sceptical of the extent of the problem, Peel reacted slowly. As realisation dawned however, he hoped that ending the Corn Laws would free up more food for the Irish. Though he knew repealing the laws would mean the end of his ministry, Peel decided to do so out of humanity. His own party failed to support the bill, but it passed with Whig and Radical support on 29 June 1846. A following bill was defeated as a direct consequence, however, and Peel resigned. Unfortunately, repeal did little to alleviate the suffering, but in the end Peel was willing to sacrifice himself in an attempt to help.

Related Topics:
29 June - 1846

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As a historiographical aside in reference to the Repeal of the Corn Laws. Peel did make some moves to subsidise the purchase of food for the Irish, however this was small and had very little effect. To criticise Peel for acting too late in repealing the Corn Laws or for not giving enough subsidies to the Irish, shows a gross misunderstanding of the historical context. In the age of laissez-faire taxes were small and subsidies almost non-existent. That subsidies were actually given was very much out of character for the political times. Secondly the repeal of the Corn Laws was more a political action than a humanitarian one; there had been poor harvests all across Europe so the repeal made little difference.

Related Topics:
Corn Laws - Laissez-faire

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The historian Boyd Hilton argues convincingly that Peel knew from 1844 that he was going to be deposed as Conservative leader, many of his MP's had taken to voting against him. Hilton's hypothesis is that Peel who had led a very Liberal ministry wished to be deposed on a Liberal issue so that he might later lead a Peelite/Whig alliance.

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He did retain a hard core of supporters however, known as Peelites, and at one point in 1849 was actively courted by the Whig/Radical coalition. He continued to stand on his conservative principles, however, and refused. Nevertheless, he was influential on several important issues, including the furtherance of British free trade with the repeal of the Navigation Acts.

Related Topics:
Peelite - Navigation Acts

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Peel was thrown from his horse while riding up Constitution Hill in London on 29 June 1850, and died three days later at the age of 62. His Peelite followers, led by Lord Aberdeen and William Gladstone, went on to fuse with the Whigs as the Liberal Party.

Related Topics:
Constitution Hill - 29 June - 1850 - Lord Aberdeen - William Gladstone - Liberal Party

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