Biography of Sir Rober Peel
Biography of Robert Peel Robert Peel was born in February 1788 and became one of the most important men in Britain during the Nineteenth Century. ... Peel became Home Secretary in 1822, and refused to take up office in 1827 due to his opposition of Canning’s policy of Catholic emancipation. ... 1829 saw Peel introducing Catholic emancipation and passing the Metropolitan Police Act. In 1830 Peel’s father died and so he inherited the baronetcy and became Sir Robert Peel. Peel opposed the Great Reform Bill first by opposing the Whigs’ call for reform in 1831 and then by refusing to serve in a Tory party that pledged reform. Peel’s first ministry came in 1834 as the leader of a minority Tory government. In 1841 Peel gained the leadership of a majority government. 1842 saw Peel introducing budgets that led towards free trade. ... Peel resigned his post in 1846 after a defeat at the hands of his own party over a Coercion Bill. In 1850 Sir Robert Peel died from injuries sustained after a fall from his horse. Peel in Ireland Peel’s political career commenced with his Irish seat and indeed his career rose, and fell as a consequence of his involvement with Ireland and Irish issues. ... Peel had three main duties as Chief Secretary: • to administer the patronage of Ireland on behalf of the English government. ... Peel wanted to rule by the existing law, but disorders in June 1814 were so bad that he revived partially the repealed Insurrection Act of 1807. ... Peel opposed all Catholic emancipation and, for his trouble, was nicknamed ‘Orange Peel’ by Daniel O’Connel in May 1813. ... In 1815 Peel challenged O’Connel to a duel. Peel travelled to Ostend but O’Connel was arrested on the way to fight the duel. In 1817, a debate on Catholic Emancipation took place in the House of Commons in which Peel spoke against it, making a name for himself in the country. ... By 1818, Peel was exhausted from his work in Ireland, which demanded not only that he conducted affairs in Dublin but also attended the House of Commons to answer parliamentary questions on Ireland. ... Peel as Home Secretary Described by Lord Canning as ‘the most efficient Home Secretary that this country ever saw’ Peel joined the Cabinet as Home Secretary in 1822 and served almost consecutively until 1829. ... As a means of changing most of the punishments from hangings into prison sentences Peel saw a need for reform in order to improve the efficiency of the gaols. ... In March 1822 Peel proposed that a House of Commons Select Committee under his chairmanship should be set up to investigate the policing of London. However, in June the committee reported that an effective system of policing could not be reconciled with a free society: Peel was not convinced of this and continued to work towards the establishment of a civilian police force.