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Auction: 21066 - Historical Documents, Postal History and Autographs
Lot: 205

Great Britain
Prime Ministers
A framed display of three items related to Spencer Perceval, mounted on red cloth:

"This locket contains the Hair of the Rt. Hon'ble Spencer Perceval taken after death from the back". Light brown hair is encased within a gilt circular locket 40mm in diameter.

"Button and cloth from the coat The Rt Hon'ble Spencer Perceval, Prime Minister of England, was wearing when he was assassinated in the Lobby of the House of Commons in 1812. From the collection of Mrs George Heathcote his granddaughter. She was daughter of Rt Hon'ble Spencer Walpole who married one of Spencer Perceval's daughters.
(signed) Bryan G.F"
(Sir Bryan Godfrey - Faussett (1863-1945) was a British naval officer, friend and aide de camp to King George V)

A mourning ring with a swivel centre and date of 6 April 1812 incorporated in the design is the third item within the frame.

A coloured engraving depicting Bellingham firing at the Prime Minister is included, published in London on 20 May 1812, and sold to the public who were clearly shocked by the assassination.

Provenance: The private collection of Sir Bryan Godfrey - Faussett

Notes: SPENCER PERCEVAL (1762 - 1812), the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated.

On 11 May 1812 at 5.15pm Perceval was shot in the lobby of the House of Commons by an aggrieved member of the public, the merchant John Bellingham, who had lobbied the Government and MPs after suggesting that he had been imprisoned unjustly in Russia and was seeking redress from the British Government. To no avail.
He shot Perceval in the chest and he died shortly thereafter.
Bellingham was immediately arrested, tried at the Old Bailey on 15 May, found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. He was executed in public three days later.


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Sold for
£1,900

Starting price
£1500