Peel, Sir Robert

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Peel, Sir Robert (1788–1850) British statesman, prime minister (1834–35, 1841–46). As Tory Party home secretary, he created (1829) the first modern police force, the Metropolitan (London) Police. Peel was chiefly responsible for passage of the Catholic Emancipation Act (1829). Peel's Tamworth Manifesto (1834) was a founding text of the Conservative Party. He became converted to the doctrine of free trade, and the Irish famine convinced him of the need to repeal the Corn Laws. The proposal split the Tory Party and Peel resigned. In his second term, he carried through the repeal before being finally forced from office.

http://www.number-10.gov.uk; http://www.met.police.uk/history

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