George Canning

George Canning (1770-1827), British statesman, prime minister of Great Britain and Ireland (1827). He was born in London and was educated at Eton, before reading law at Christ Church, Oxford. A Tory, he entered the House of Commons as member for the rotten borough of Newtown in 1793 as the protégé and supporter of the prime minister William Pitt. In 1796 Canning was made under-secretary of state for foreign affairs, following which he was promoted to Commissioner on the Board of Control for India in 1799, Paymaster-General, and to the Privy Council in 1800, and to treasurer of the navy in 1801. However, when Pitt resigned later that year, Canning also resigned his post on the Privy Council.

When Pitt again became prime minister in 1804, Canning was reappointed treasurer of the navy, an office he held until the death of Pitt in 1806. In 1807, Canning became foreign minister in the ministry of the Duke of Portland. During his tenure he played an important role in the planning of the war against France, including the seizure of the Danish fleet, and so preventing its use by Napoleon, and support for the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsular War. His resignation three years later was prompted by his continuing feud with the secretary for war, Viscount Castlereagh, which came to a head over the despatch of reinforcements to Spain—Castlereagh sent them to Holland instead. The two men resigned and fought a duel in September 1809 during which Canning was injured in the thigh.

Canning remained out of office until 1816, refusing to serve in a government with Castlereagh. He was elected as MP for Liverpool in 1812, and eventually accepted the position of President of the Board of Control in the ministry under Lord Liverpool. He finally succeeded Castlereagh as foreign secretary and leader of the House of Commons in 1822 following the latter’s suicide. From then until his death, Canning guided the foreign affairs of Great Britain, setting the tone of British foreign policy for the rest of the 19th century.

Looking to avoid entanglement with Continental affairs he opposed the Holy Alliance. He recognized the independence of the newly emerging states throughout Latin America, discouraging foreign intervention in American affairs, a policy that enabled the Monroe Doctrine of the United States to be effective; he aided Portugal against Spanish aggression; and aided the Greeks in their struggle against the Turks. At home, Canning agitated for emancipation of Roman Catholics and for reform of the Corn Laws. When Lord Liverpool left office in 1827, Canning succeeded him as prime minister, but his ministry lasted only until his death four months later.