In Britain, modern politics starts with Peel. When William IV sacked Lord Melbourne and sent for Sir Robert, this was the last time a monarch dismissed his ministers of his own accord. When Peel replaced Melbourne again, in 1841, this was the first time a government was overturned, not by the King, not by a vote of Parliament, but by a vote of the British electorate. Peel's manifesto to his electors in Tamworth was the first national manifesto in British history. — Ferdinand Mount (2007)
Biographical Materials
- Biography of Sir Robert Peel
- Timeline of Sir Robert Peel's Life
- Sir Robert Peel's Family Origins
Portraits
- Statue of Sir Robert Peel in Parliament Square (4 views)
- A Portrait of Sir Robert Peel (Illustrated London News, 1843)
Speeches
- Defence of his acceptance of office: 24 February 1835
- The Bank Charter Act (1844)
- The Corn Laws (22 January 1846)
- On the second reading of the Bill for the Repeal of the Corn Laws (16 February 1846)
- Extract from Peel's final ministerial speech in the House of Commons, 29 June 1846
- On the Bedchamber Crisis
- On the consolidation of Criminal Laws (22 February 1827)
Major Issues
- A Comparison of Pitt the Younger and Sir Robert Peel
- The Lichfield House Compact
- Peel's First Ministry: December 1834 to April 1835
- The Tamworth Manifesto (text-discussion)
- The Metropolitan Police
- Peel and Catholic Emancipation
- The Bedchamber Crisis (1839)
- Peel and Ireland 1841-6
Contemporary Views
- Disraeli's assessment of Peel, from Lord George Bentinck (1852)
- Greville on Peel's 1842 Budget
- A defence of Peel's Tamworth Manifesto: Quarterly Review
2 September 2007