William Godwin's Diary

Events

Spencer Perceval (1762–1812), the prime minister, was assassinated in the lobby of the House of Commons by John Bellingham, who shot him with pistols. Bellingham was a commercial agent arrested for debt in Archangel, Russia in 1804. His appeal to the British consul for assistance fell on deaf ears and he became fixated by revenge. He was tried and convicted on 15 May and executed on 18 May, believing he was fully justified in his actions.

See DNB.