CANNING, GEORGE, a distinguished British statesman and orator, was b. in London, April 11, 1770. His father, who was descended from an ancient family, incurred the displeasure of his relatives for marrying beneath his station, and died in poverty when his son was only a year old. His mother (who for a subsistence tried the stage, with but little success, married an actor, and subsequently a linen-draper) lived to rejoice in the success and participate in the good-fortune of her boy, whose education was liberally provided by an uncle. C. was first educated at Eton, from which he passed, at the age of 17, to Christ's church college, Oxford, where he greatly distinguished himself, espe cially in classics. While here, he cultivated the friendship of the Hon. Charles Jenkin son (afterwards lord Liverpool), who was of considerable service to him in after-life. From Oxford he went to Lincoln's inn, but on the suggestion of Burke, as it is said, he soon relinquished the bar for a parliamentary career. He entered the house for Newport, Isle of Wight, in 1793, as the protégé and supporter of the minister, Pitt. In 1796, he was appointed an under-secretary of state. It was not, however, until 1798 that C. made a reputation as an orator and a statesman, by his speeches in favor of the abolition of the slave-trade, and against Mr. Tierney's motion regarding peace with the French directory, the latter of which, especially, was regarded as a masterpiece of eloquence, alike by the house and the country. In the debates ou the habeas corpus suspension act, the union with Ireland, and other important questions, C. gave valuable assistance to the ministry, not only by his voice in parliament, but by his pen in a satirical paper, called the Anti Jacobin, in which he especially lashed the " new philosophy," as it was called, pronnil gated by the French republicans. The Knife Grinder is one of the best known and hap piest of his efforts in this line. In 1801, Pitt resigned office, and C. joined the opposi tion against the Addington ministry. When Pitt again became premier in 1804, C. was made treasurer of the navy, an office which he held until Pitt's death in 1806, His oppo sition to the short-lived Grenville ministry which succeeded, savored of the bitterness of party feeling, and his treatment of Fox in his last days, and of his memory after his death, was far from generous. When the Portland ministry was formed in 1807, C. was appointed minister for foreign affairs, a position for which he was specially qualified, and his dispatches, written at this time, are models of manliness and lucidity. In 1812,
all his eloquence was enlisted iu favor of Catholic emancipation. During the same year lie was elected for Liverpool, for which he was again returned three successive times. In 1814, he went as ambassador to Lisbon, returned in 1816, and was made president of the board of control, and supported the Liverpool ministry in all their arbitrary and repressive measures until 1820, when he resigned, in consequence of the action of the government against queen Caroline. Nominated governor-general of India in 1822, he was on the eve of departure when the suicide of the marquis of Londonderry called him to the head of foreign affairs. In this capacity, C. conferred lasting benefits on his country. He infused a more liberal spirit into the cabinet, lie asserted the independence of British polities against the diplomacy that would have entangled the nation with the Holy Alliance, and gave a new direction and impetus to commercial affairs by a gradual laying aside of the prohibitive system. lie arranged the relations of Brazil and Portu gal; drew the French cabinet into agreement with the British respecting Spanish Ameri can affairs; was the first to recognize the free states of Spanish America ; promoted the treaty combining England, France, and RuSsia, for a.Settlenient of the affairs of Greece, and which was signed July 6, 1827; protected Portugal from Spanish invasion; con tended earnestly for Catholic emancipation; and prepared the way for a repeal of the corn-laws. In Feb., 1827, a stroke of paralysis forced the earl of Liverpool to resign, and Mr. C. was called upon to form a new administration. His health, however; gave way under the cares of office, and he died 8th Aug. of the same year. His remains were interred in Westminster abbey, near those of Pitt. As a parliamentary orator, C. holds a prominent place in British annals. His acuteness of mind, power of expression, and well-pointed wit, were remarkable; but, on the whole, he was inferior to Pitt, Burke, and Fox. He lacked the imposing characteristics of the first, the overpowering enthu siasm of the second, and the winning address of the last. lie was intensely British, and his foreign policy was of the character best calculated to promote British interests.
His speeches have been reprinted in 6 vols. 8vo, by Therry, and several memoirs, including one by his private secretary, Mr. Stapleton, have been published.