Peel , Sir , Robert , 1788-1850 , 2nd Baronet , statesman

Sir Robert Peel was born in Lancashire in 1788. He was at Harrow School and Christ Church, Oxford. He entered parliament aged 21 as Tory MP for Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland, subsequently serving as MP for Chippenham, Wiltshire and Oxford University before succeeding his father as MP for Tamworth, Staffordshire in 1830. He first became a cabinet minister in 1822 and served two terms as Prime Minister (1834-1835, 1841-1846). Peel's Tamworth Manifesto of 1834 and his government's repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 (which led to its fall and provoked a split in the Tories) both strongly influenced the development of the Conservative party into its current form. However, he is best remembered for establishing the Metropolitan Police ('Bobbies' or 'Peelers') whilst Home Secretary in 1829. He died in 1850 after falling from his horse. His son (also Robert) succeeded him as baronet and as MP for Tamworth.